“You only really discover the strength of your spine when your back is against the wall.”

“Why must an aphorism be brief?Because only a fool gives a speech in a burning house.”

“For life is short and the art of writing books is very, very long.”

“I think that it's only natural that readers become writers. You can only learn so much before you have to share it with others.”

“In California we believe that most anxiety can be traced to a purely physical cause.Which can be traced to a purely mental cause.Which can be traced to a purely spiritual cause.Which can probably be traced back to a physical cause. Et cetera.”

“That's the human heart for you -- whatever you flee, that's the thing you are looking for.”

“I pull into the mall. This is the place to go when you're feeling homesick for California. The rest of the world likes our buildings, contructs with 'character,' but Californians like everything spanking new, clean as an unopened package of plastic spoons.”