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.

Unhappy failures need not apply.

Much of the conversation in the country consisted of lines from television shows, both past and present.

Nowadays, of course, just about our only solvent industry is the merchandising of death, bankrolled by our grandchildren.

Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?

Some persons seem to like you, and others seem to hate you, and you must wonder why. They are simply liking machines and hating machines.

They like life alright, but that they would like it even better if they could know that it was going to end sometime.