A good writer does not receive anywhere near the number of poison-pen letters that is commonly assumed. Among a hundred jackassesthere are not ten who will admit to being jackasses, and at most one who will put it in writing.

One cannot dictate an aphorism to a typist. It would take too long.

A historian is often only a journalist facing backwards.

The immorality of men triumphs over the amorality of women.

I trim my opponents to fit my arrows.

Through my satire I make little people so big that afterwards they are worthy objects of my satire and no one can reproach me any longer.

If someone calls me vain and mean, I know that he trusts me and has something to confess to me.