I think that the idea that there's such a thing as a national literature that's somehow uniquely expressive of a national soul or culture or mentality is probably also something that nobody really believes in anymore.

Universities are set up to get people to work together by having them disagree with each other.

I don't think that taste should be the decider of moral issues.

It's generally sort of sociologically observed that the better educated people are, the more liberal they tend to be, which would suggest that professors are going to be more liberal than the general public.

There are limits, after all, to the idea of limits.

I think that the idea that there's such a thing as a national literature that's somehow uniquely expressive of a national soul or culture or mentality is probably also something that nobody really believes in anymore.

One of the good things about the profession of being a professor, is that you also have time to do what interests you and what you care about or what you're good at.