“I think a lot of people come to their politics through their religion. I did the reverse. I got more into my religion through my political conservatism…”

“I don't know whether I'm older than the wall of separation between church and state.”

“I whistle happy birthday 650 times a year, and I do it because I want to honor their lives.”

“The soul might not take tranq on the street in Philadelphia or in Portland as it can’t rebel like that, but the soul’s just going to rebel if it is denied its fulfillment. That leads to much misery.”

“Now during the 2008 financial crisis, I was at Morgan Stanley and I gave away most of my bonus that year because I didn't think it was ethical for me to receive it. And in fact, I gave away a big chunk of it to the Mises Institute that year because they had opened my eyes to the alternative explanation for what really caused the 2008 financial crisis.”

“Once you find yourself saying, “But Salvador Dali had an ocelot,” — just really check yourself right there.”

“What is right? What is the principle I believe here, and how do I apply it evenhandedly?“

“At one point, when I understood that I am going to die, I couldn't stand the fear that took hold of me. It was beyond anything I ever felt in my whole life, the most extreme feeling of panic, and terror, utter terror. So, I kind of took a look at my life, and I became very grateful for what I have, what I had — for my life's trajectory and the people I met and the people I loved and who loved me back. And that was a really deep moment for me.”

“Probably living under communism and having grown up with Holocaust stories has made me more suspicious than other people about what the government tells you is true or good for you.“

“I became more political when I went to northeastern, liberal, establishment schools. I went to Groton School at the age of 14. And the teachers there were pretty uniformly liberal Democrats. And the more I listened to them, the less convinced I became of what they were saying.“

“Identify the three characteristics that you want in a spouse. Be sure they're the right ones. When you find someone who hits them, marry him or marry her. That's it.“

“Culturally, I'm definitely more on the left. I just went to Stonehenge.“

“I came from a very traditional New Jersey '50s marriage. Everything changed during those years – from 1959 to 1975 – including me.”

“The most optimistic interpretation of writer’s block is that it doesn't really exist. That all that's going on is certain parts of your body and your mentality are shutting down while unconsciously you're working through some deep problem in your work.”

“Look, we read you because you pursue stuff that's interesting to you and you try to tell it straight and you know sometimes that we're not going to like it.”

“But basically the general premise is that I got sober and my family gave me a reverse intervention. They were like, ‘We're worried about you. You're not drinking. What are you…pregnant?’”

“The Grateful Dead's music is not fascist marching music.”

“I'm most certain that Lee Harvey Oswald did not shoot John F. Kennedy.”

“I know a lot of guys that play saxophone better than me, but I play music better than them, so I win.”

“Most of their energy should go into honing their craft and not into marketing themselves, which is a responsibility that sadly, has been thrust upon all artists in this day and age.”