There is probably no heterosexual alive who is not preoccupied with his latent homosexuality.

The natural role of twentieth-century man is anxiety.

With the pride of the artist, you must blow against the walls of every power that exists the small trumpet of your defiance.

No physical activity is so vain as boxing. A man gets into the ring to attract admiration. In no sport, therefore, can you be more humiliated.

You do not really wish to hear more of the Battle of Kadesh. Let me say only that human fat, gorged in considerable quantity, has an intoxicating effect. I became ... drunk.

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.

The sole virtue of losing your short-term memory is that it does free you to be your own editor.