I'd rather be a lightning rod than a seismograph.

The job of the writer is to kiss no ass, no matter how big and holy and white and tempting and powerful.

Memory whispers someplace in that jumbled machinery.

Because he knows you have to laugh at the things that hurt you just to keep yourself in balance, just to keep the world from running you plumb crazy. He knows there's a painful side; he knows my thumb smarts and his girlfriend has a bruised breast and the doctor is losing his glasses, but he won't let the pain blot out the humor no more'n he'll let the humor blot out the pain.

Listen, wait, and be patient. Every shaman knows you have to deal with the fire that's in your audience's eye.

I used to think we were going to win in the '60s. Nixon went out and I thought we won.

The world news might not be therapeutic.