Beware of "grandfalloons" and "foma". A "grandfalloon" is a proud and meaningless association of human beings. "Foma" are harmless truths intended to comfort simple souls.

I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.

Kurt Vonnegut speaking to John Irving while Irving was administering the Heimlich maneuver in response to Vonnegut's uncontrollable coughing..."John,stop- I am not choking. I have emphysema.

His mother understood my illness immediately, that it was my world rather than myself that was diseased.

Do you think Arabs are dumb? They gave us our numbers. Try doing long division with Roman numerals.

If I am going to spend eternity visiting this moment and that, I'm grateful that so many of those moments are nice.

My God, the religious right will not acknowledge what a merciful person Jesus was.