I like bars just after they open in the evening. When the air inside is still cool and clean and everything is shiny. The first quiet drink of the evening in a quiet bar -- that's wonderful.

The minute you try to talk business with him he takes the attitude that he is a gentleman and a scholar, and the moment you try to approach him on the level of his moral integrity he starts to talk business.

It is a language which is being molded by writers to do delicate things and yet be in the grasp of superficially educated people.

The keynote of American civilization is a sort of warm-hearted vulgarity. The Americans have none of the irony of the English, none of their cool poise, none of their manner. But they do have friendliness. Where an Englishman would give you his card, an American would very likely give you his shirt.

Technique alone is never enough. You have to have passion. Technique alone is just an embroidered potholder.

I belonged in Idle Valley like a pearl onion on a banana split.

When in doubt, have a man come through the door with a gun in his hand.