Being American is, I think, a very difficult thing in art, because all the elements are European.

Doing what you wanted to do was the only training, and the only preliminary, needed for doing more of what you wanted to do.

Hangover cure: Rigorous sex, hydration, hot bath, then "go up for half an hour in an open aeroplane. (needless to say, with a non-hungover person at the controls)."

When I find someone I respect writing about an edgy, nervous wine that dithered in the glass, I cringe. When I hear someone I don't respect talking about an austere, unforgiving wine, I turn a bit austere and unforgiving myself. When I come across stuff like that and remember about the figs and bananas, I want to snigger uneasily. You can call a wine red, and dry, and strong, and pleasant. After that, watch out.

One of the great benefits of organised religion is that you can be forgiven your sins, which must be a wonderful thing. I mean, I carry my sins around with me, there's nobody there to forgive them.

A bad review may spoil your breakfast, but you shouldn't allow it to spoil your lunch.

Education is one thing and instruction, however worthy, necessary and incidentally or monetarily educative, another.