I saw the destruction of Dresden. I saw the city before and then came out of an air-raid shelter and saw it afterward, and certainly one response was laughter. God knows, that's the soul seeking some relief.

Aside from battles, the history of nations seemed to consist of nothing but powerless old poops like myself, heavily medicated and vaguely beloved in the long ago, coming to kiss the boots of young psychopaths.

I wish that people who are conventionally supposed to love each other would say to each other, when they fight, "Please - a little less love, and a little more common decency."

What war has always been is a puberty ceremony.

In an unmoored life like mine, sleep and hunger and work arrange themselves to suit themselves, without consulting me.

They do not love one another because they do not love themselves.

Most kids can't afford to go to Harvard to be misinformed.