I look upon another's insistence on the merits of his or her life - duties, intellect, accomplishment - and see that most of it is nonsense.

Me, my literary reputation is mostly abroad, but I am anchored here in New York. I can't think of any other place I'd rather die than here.

It is death that goes down to the center of the earth, the great burial church the earth is, and then to the curved ends of the universe, as light is said to do.

Public radio is alive and kicking, it always has been.

Happiness is a ball after which we run wherever it rolls, and we push it with our feet when it stops.

I guess I would say true happiness is to love and be loved. Of course, having enough money for food, shelter, health care and things like that all help, but that is more about security.

Sports uplift us. It's celebratory, gives us optimism and joy.

Indeed, man wishes to be happy even when he so lives as to make happiness impossible.