“The only important elements in any society are the artistic and the criminal, because they alone, by questioning the society’s values, can force it to change.”

“The 'value' of particular artists after Duchamp can be weighed according to how much they questioned the nature of art.”

“..we may value foreign elements not only because they are new but because they seem to accord more faithfully with our identity and commitments than anything our homeland can provide.”

“we are, in any case, only one of the forces acting in society”

“The criminal is the creative artist; the detective only the critic.”

“A sense of accomplishment. It is the most important ingredient in any rational being's formula of happiness. It is the element that builds confidence and allows us to go on to other, greater tasks. It is the item that promotes a sense of self-worth, that allows any person to believe there is value in life itself, that gives a sense of purpose to bolster us as we face life's unanswerable questions.”