Surely it is more civilized to kill one man every few months, hold up his head for all to behold, say his name, and return home for a feast than to slaughter nameless millions.

There is something about finding the balance to one's nature - perhaps a culture that flourishes is a culture that has found a similar balance among its people.

The impulse to touch her and all the life in her was something I had to check regularly.

You don't struggle with these questions?""No. But I've always thought my opinion was the right one. It's a small flaw I have.""An American flaw.

Go. Go to your beautiful dances, your beautiful ceremonies. And we will bury our dead.

You don’t realise how language actually interferes with communication until you don’t have it, how it gets in the way like an overdominant sense.

Sometimes you just find a culture that breaks your heart, ” she said finally.

He smelled of cigarettes and whiskey, the smell of Cambridge and youth.

With courage, always go where you fear to go.

Sadie heard her inside cleaning up the kitchen and wondered what dreams Betty's mother had for herself, if all mothers had them, bottled up beneath their mother exteriors.

I also drink Scotch. But I'm not picky. I'll take the victory Scotch, or the Scotch of defeat. Or the rotgut swill.

I find waiting unbearable because it makes me passive and negates me. I hate being nothing.

I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery.

You can't please everyone, nor should you seek to, because then you won't please anyone, least of all yourself.

I think President Obama has used the bully pulpit as a way to attack capitalism.

Some people like to do everything always the same thing. That's another way: To do the same thing.

In Hollywood you can see things at night that are fast enough to be in the Olympics in the day time.

A simple [writing] style is the result of very hard work.