Back in 1992, I had my first story accepted by 'The New Yorker.'

I tend to foster drama via bleakness. If I want the reader to feel sympathy for a character, I cleave the character in half, on his birthday. And then it starts raining. And he's made of sugar.

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.

Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.

Developing our sympathetic compassion is not only possible but the only reason for us to be here on earth.

According to me, your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving. Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now.

It's a big world, and I really like it.

Character is that sum total of moments we can't explain.

The generalizing writer is like the passionate drunk, stumbling into your house mumbling: I know I'm not being clear, exactly, but don't you kind of feel what I'm feeling?

Kindness, it turns out, is hard - it starts out all rainbows and puppy dogs, and expands to include . . . well, EVERYTHING.

Step out of the crowd of average people. Enter that game and change the values on the scoreboard.

My son is everything to me. He's the reason why I get up and I work out the way I work out and train the way that I train. He changed everything about me, so he was a blessing.

I think that testosterone is a rare poison.

I'm the most un-diva-ish person you'll meet. I'm never rude to people and I am always on time.

We have an epidemic of insecure people in our society today.

First of all, I choose the great roles, and if none of these come, I choose the mediocre ones, and if they don't come, I choose the ones that pay the rent.

For me the moment of death will be a moment of jubilation, not of fear. I cried when I was born and I shall die laughing.

Not only does he hate me, and want to kill me, he no longer believes I'm human. It was less painful being strangled.

I'm from California, and still live in LA.

The descent beckons as the ascent beckoned