Her cooking suggested she had attended the Cordon Noir.

Where was it ever promised us that life on this earth can ever be easy, free from conflict and uncertainty, devoid of anguish and wonder and pain? … The purpose of life is to matter, to be productive, to have it make some difference that you lived at all.

Many [of the Americans] polled showed a marked disapproval of the Wallonians, Danerians, and Pirenians. The fact that these minorities were invented by the pollster did not diminish the hostility.

The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't help it.

Every writer is a narcissist. This does not mean that he is vain; it only means that he is hopelessly self-absorbed.

Courage is the capacity to confront what can be imagined.

A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead.