“A basic rule of life for reporters is that you should spend your time talking with and learning about people who are not sending you press releases, rather than those who are.”

“Environmental disaster is the gravest threat to China's continued development. That's according to me, but it is not some wacko view.”

“There's no longer any surprise in noting that China has grave environmental problems.”

“Always write angry letters to your enemies. Never mail them.”

“No one ever really 'learns' from history, because choices never present themselves in exactly the same way, and because you can always choose similarities and differences to fit current needs.”

“The air that people breathe in many Chinese cities has become dangerously polluted. Their food supply is subject to constant contamination scandals. Now it appears that not merely stagnant ponds but the water people draw from deep underground is already tainted.”

“A basic rule of life for reporters is that you should spend your time talking with and learning about people who are not sending you press releases, rather than those who are.”

“Over the eons I've been a fan of, and sucker for, each latest automated system to 'simplify' and 'bring order to' my life. Very early on this led me to the beautiful-and-doomed Lotus Agenda for my DOS computers, and Actioneer for the early Palm.”