A sensational event was changing from the brown suit to the gray the contents of his pockets. He was earnest about these objects. They were of eternal importance, like baseball or the Republican Party.

Don't be a writer. Writing is an escape from something. You be a scientist.

Why is it that traveling Americans are always so dreadful?

Winter is not a season, it's an occupation.

Writers have a rare power not given to anyone else: we can bore people long after we are dead.

You have more people that love you than you know.

There was much conversation, most of which sounded like the rest of it.