The most important message of a crucifix, to me anyway, was how unspeakably cruel supposedly sane human beings can be when under orders from a superior authority.

. . . but the Universe is an awfully big place. There is room enough for an awful lot of people to be right about things and still not agree.

You have never seen greatness in a Presidency; I have. It was a rich kid who you would think had every reason to be a horse's ass - Franklin Roosevelt. He was humane and wise and resourceful. He was called a traitor to his class.

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.

The secret to success in any human endeavor is total concentration.

I'm not a drug salesman. I'm a writer.

if there is a god, he sure hates people