One of the main effects of war, after all, is that people are discouraged from being characters.

You had to get everything exactly right or the editors would give you hell.

There was a message written in pencil on the tiles by the roller towel. This was it: What is the purpose of life? Trout plundered his pockets for a pen or pencil. He had an answer to the question. But he had nothing to write with, not even a burnt match. So he left the question unanswered, but here is what he would have written, if he had found anything to write with: To be the eyes and ears and conscience of the Creator of the Universe, you fool.

Big, undreamed-of things — the people on the edge see them first.

One of the few good things about modern times: If you die horribly on television, you will not have died in vain. You will have entertained us.

I had a friend who was a heavy drinker. If somebody asked him if he'd been drunk the night before, he would always answer offhandedly, 'Oh, I imagine.' I've always liked that answer. It acknowledges life as a dream.

I've got news for Mr. Santayana: we're doomed to repeat the past no matter what. That's what it is to be alive.