“Short stories are fiction's R & D department, and failed or less-than-...” — Walter Kirn Quote

“Short stories are fiction's R & D department, and failed or less-than-conclusive experiments are not just to be expected but to be hoped for.”

“I like to think that I could praise the good book of someone I personally dislike. I try not to comment on the person, to be insulting, but I have no trouble being insulting to the work.”

“Remember daydreams? No, of course you don't. How could you? Three new text messages have just arrived, and another three, in a moment, will go out.”

“Nobody now is going from department to another department. Only Walt did that. I was very fond of him, really.”

“Our primary responsibility as the Department of Homeland Security is to protect the safety and security of the American people. And that means taking preventive actions before they occur of course.”

“There is no more important institution in our country than the Department of Justice.”