Next to the defeated politician, the writer is the most vocal and inventive griper on earth. He sees hardship and unfairness wherever he looks. His agent doesn’t love him (enough). The blank sheet of paper is an enemy. The publisher is a cheapskate. The critic is a philistine. The public doesn’t understand him. His wife doesn’t understand him. The bartender doesn’t understand him.

Why not make a daily pleasure out a daily necessity.

Sunglasses must be kept on until an acquaintance is identified at one of the tables, but one must not appear to be looking for company. Instead, the impression should be that one is heading into the cafe to make a phone call to one's titled Italian admirer, when--quelle surprise!--one sees a friend. The sunglasses can then be removed and the hair tossed while one is persuaded to sit down.

I'd rather live precariously in my own office than comfortably in somebody else's.

There is nothing like a comfortable adventure to put people in a good humor. . .

Prescription for writer’s block: fear of poverty.

The English kill their meat twice: once when they slaughter it and once when they cook it.