Language is a machine for making falsehoods.
If we want foxes, to observe and delight in, we must have hunting.
I very much wanted to be editor of the 'New Statesman!' But I never wanted to be prime minister, except maybe as a little boy.
Next to courage, willpower is the most important thing in politics.
If the decline of Christianity created the modern political zealot - and his crimes - so the evaporation of religious faith among the educated left a vacuum in the minds of Western intellectuals easily filled by secular superstition. There is no other explanation for the credulity with which scientists, accustomed to evaluating evidence, and writers, whose whole function was to study and criticize society, accepted the crudest Stalinist propaganda at its face value. They needed to believe; they wanted to be duped.
The most intimidating world leader was Lyndon Johnson, who became U. S. President when John Kennedy was assassinated. He exulted in this power and liked to inspire fear.
I was very fond of Princess Diana. She used to have me over to lunch to ask my advice. I'd give her good advice, and she'd say: 'I entirely agree. Paul, you're so right. ' Then she'd go and do the opposite.
In reading some books we occupy ourselves chiefly with the thoughts of the author; in perusing others, exclusively with our own.
I always wanted to sound like a man, like Jeff Buckley or Tom Waits.
You know, you know, obviously, if my daughter's happy, you know, then I don't have any problem.
This was something you had to work through on you own," Jason said. "Besides, I knew you'd do the right thing. " "Oh, right," I said. I wanted to throw something at him. I really did. "And if I hadn't?" Now Jason brandished something he'd been holding behind his back. It was a golf club. "I figured Big Bertha here would drive them away," he said.