You, and in fact quite a lot of your generation, have in some way been exiled from that particular sanctuary. It's become almost impossible for someone to "go mad" in the classical sense. At one time people conveniently "went mad" and were never heard from again. Like a character in a romantic novel. But now you are too hip to yourself on a psychological level. You all are too intimate with too many of the symptoms of insanity to be caught completely off your guard.

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

The stars up close to the moon were pale; they got brighter and braver the farther they got out of the circle of light ruled by the giant moon

You don't lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.

Ritual is necessary for us to know anything.

Man, when you lose your laugh you lose your footing.

He knows that there's no better way in the world to aggravate somebody who's trying to make it hard for you than by acting like you're not bothered.