The right of the people to peacefully assemble and petition their government for a redress of grievances is now worth a pitcher of warm spit. That's because TV will not come and treat it respectfully. Television is really something.

After the First World War, Germany was trying to build a democracy. Then when the Reichstag, the legislature, was burned down in 1933, this was seen as such an emergency that human rights had to be suspended. The attack on the World Trade Towers has allowed Bush and his gang to do anything. What are we to do now? I say when there's a code red, we should all run around like chickens with our heads cut off. I don't feel that we are in any great danger.

It's the writer's job to stage confrontations, so the characters will say surprising and revealing things, and educate and entertain us all.

Humor is a way of holding off how awful life can be, to protect yourself.

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

Contemplating a purported work of art is a social activity. Either you have a rewarding time, or you don't. You don't have to say why afterward. You don't have to say anything.

As stupid and vicious as men are, this is a lovely day.