Along with all else, Sandman is a comic strip for intellectuals, and I say it's about time.

The fact that we've been a great democracy doesn't mean we will automatically keep being one if we keep waving the flag.

We are in love with the word. We are proud of it. The word precedes the formation of the state. The word comes to us from every avatar of early human existence. As writers, we are obliged more than others to keep our lives attached to the primitive power of the word. From India, out of the Vedas, we still hear: On the spoken word, all the gods depend, all beasts and men; in the world live all creatures...The word is the name of the divine world.

Reaching consensus in a group is often confused with finding the right answer.

I really gave up being passionate about politics 10, 15, 20 years ago, because I think finally that there were forces in the country that are larger than politics itself. And so I find it a fascinating game, this wonderful stuff goes on in terms of watching the game. But If you get to down it, look, I`m going to root for someone, I`ll root at a football game, not for politicians.

While I'm working on a book, I rarely read anything more than The New York Times. Which may have the long-term effect of flattening my style.

Sentimentality is the emotional promiscuity of those who have no sentiment.