The flagrantly gay Quentin Crisp dealt with homophobic bullying by refusing to bow to its onslaught. His number listed in the phone directory, he responded to derogatory remarks accompanied with a stated intent to kill him by asking, "Would you like to make an appointment?"

All this cut-price transcendentalism does not prevent California from being a startlingly physical state. This becomes most obvious where Los Angeles saunters down to the sea. The region is called Venice.

The key is never, never work. Nothing is more aging than work. It's not only the strain of getting up in the morning for work, but it's the resentment that settles on your face

Ask yourself, if there was to be no blame, and if there was to be no praise, who would I be then?

Other-cheekism is not only a way of purifying the soul, it is also part of every weak person's survival kit.

Manners are love in a cool climate.

Nowadays people don't use face powder; they say it dries the skin. But I makeup in the old-fashioned way.