Because I don't have to be careful of people's feelings when I teach literature, and I do when I'm teaching writing.

Time, which is your enemy in almost everything in this life, is your friend in writing.

We are made to persist. that's how we find out who we are.

Fearlessness in those without power is maddening to those who have it.

One of the things that draws writers to writing is that they can get things right that they got wrong in real life by writing about them.

The beauty of a fragment is that it still supports the hope of brilliant completeness.

A piece of writing is a dangerous thing," he said. "It can change your life.

Real maturity is the ability to imagine the humanity of every person as fully as you believe in your own humanity.

Memory is funny. Once you hit a vein the problem is not how to remember but how to control the flow.

Everything has to be pulling weight in a short story for it to be really of the first order.

Most of us dont live lives that lend themselves to novelistic expression, because our lives are so fragmented.

Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.

Celebrate Earth Day! A time to recognize the gains we have made. A time to create new actions to accelerate environmental progress. Protect our planet not only on Earth Day, but everyday!

Accept these grateful tears...For thee they flow, for thee... That ever felt another's woe.

It is only because the world looks on his talent with such a frightening indifference that the artist is compelled to make his talent important.

I grew up on musicals, and I know they are quite the thing now, but I'm actually a little indignant, because I started taking singing lessons years ago - I put the time in!

Our universe is not a 'was' or a 'will be' system. It is an 'is' system vibrating within the 'now' measurement of time.

My work is about seeing - seeing things like they haven't been seen before.

Governments don't reduce deficits by raising taxes on the people; governments reduce deficits by controlling spending and stimulating new wealth.

If you have breakouts, it can be really healing, it's a little bit stinky, but if you're not sleeping over at your boyfriend's, it's really effective

Usually the president is kind of the initiator of the idea, then Congress makes it work.