Journalists cover words and delude themselves into thinking they have committed journalism.

Russians have always seen themselves as second to some other power. The Chinese don't see themselves as second to anybody. They may understand that they're not as economically developed as we are, but they regard their proper role as being at the center of the universe.

Russians will consume marinated mushrooms and vodka, salted herring and vodka, smoked salmon and vodka, salami and vodka, caviar on brown bread and vodka, pickled cucumbers and vodka, cold tongue and vodka, red beet salad and vodka, scallions and vodka-anything and everything and vodka.

Journalists do not live by words alone, although sometimes they have to eat them

...this is precisely the purpose of censorship- not only to block unwanted views, but to keep people who are unhappy from knowing how many millions of others share their unhappiness; to keep the dormant opposition from awakening to its own developing strength.

Some days I wonder how I'll get through a whole lifetime of thinking. A life that's just words, words, words, shuffling around in my head. Was I born that way?