People should practice an art in order to make their souls grow and not to make money or become famous. Paint a picture. Write.

Oh, God — the lives people try to lead. Oh, God — what a world they try to lead them in.

I was hoping to build a country and add to its literature. That's why I served in World War II, and that's why I wrote books.

There is a tragic flaw in our precious constitution, and I don't know what can be done to fix it. This is it: Only nut cases want to be president.

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.

High school is closer to the core of the American experience than anything else I can think of.

We're terrible animals. I think that the Earth's immune system is trying to get rid of us, as well it should.