“From men motivated by moral certitude, history teaches, no lasting good ever comes.”

Death to all modifiers, he declared one day, and out of every letter that passed through his hands went every adverb and every adjective.

There is no disappointment so numbing as someone no better than you achieving more.

Remember that everyone deserves some fun during working hours.

She was the epitome of stately sorrow each time she smiled.

I wouldn’t want to live without strong misgivings.

Prostitution gives her an opportunity to meet people. It provides fresh air and wholesome exercise, and it keeps her out of trouble.

What do you do when it rains?” The captain answered frankly. “I get wet.

He was going to live forever, or die in the attempt.

Success and failure are both difficult to endure. Along with success come drugs, divorce, fornication, bullying, travel, meditation, medication, depression, neurosis and suicide. With failure comes failure.

When people disagreed with him he urged them to be objective.

I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long.

Well, he died. You don’t get any older than that.

Insanity is contagious.

Never quit a job as a matter of principle. You’ll always regret it.

You know, that might be the answer – to act boastfully about something we ought to be ashamed of. That’s a trick that never seems to fail.

Let’s take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.

The word ‘good’ has many meanings. For example, if a man were to shoot his grandmother at a range of five hundred yards, I should call him a good shot, but not necessarily a good man.

The parent who tries to train without setting a good example is building with one hand, and pulling down with the other.

Every job is good if you do your best and work hard. A man who works hard stinks only to the ones that have nothing to do but smell.

I just sing and write songs and wear what I want. It’s quite a good job really. If I wanted to I suppose I could become more of a fashion icon, but singing is my thing.

Star Wars has always struck a chord with people. There are issues of loyalty, of friendship, of good and evil… The theme came from stories and ideas that have been around for thousands of years.

Good news is rare these days, and every glittering ounce of it should be cherished and hoarded and worshipped and fondled like a priceless diamond.

Many a good beginning makes a bad ending.

I’m good at melody – I’ll write the top-line melody and ideal words I want to go with it. But I’m not that good at writing lyrics. I bounce those back and forth with songwriters or someone who can sing.