But I wondered if all this kissing was a bad habit with him and me. The thing we did with our mouths instead of talking.

You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, What is your favorite book?

I can promise you books and conversation and all my heart.

It was strange, really. A couple months ago, I had thought I couldn’t live without him. Apparently I could.

Diving is a leap of faith plus gravity.

We are not quite novels. We are not quite short stories. In the end, we are collected works

We aren't the things we collect, acquire, read. We are, for as long as we are here, only love. The things we loved. The people we loved. And these, I think these really do live on.

Let's stay young forever. Young, stupid, and pretty. Sounds like a plan, don't you think?

Death is a state of mind---many people on Earth spend their entire lives dead.

They should tell you when you’re born: have a suitcase heart, be ready to travel.

In the end, the end of a life only matters to friends, family, and other folks you used to know. For everyone else, it's just another end.

A divided mind cannot conquer a united soul.

Writing is easy. Saying something that would make a difference is the task.

Civility is not about dousing strongly held views. It's about making sure that people are willing to respect other perspectives.

The way superheroes dominate the fictional landscape now, along with dystopian futures and zombies. Yeah, definitely - I think these stories function as a kind of mythology for us.

The kind uncles and aunts of the race are more esteemed than its true spiritual fathers and mothers.

I don't know how many off the record conversations I've had with African-American leaders who would not be quoted and refused to make their sentiments public.

I think we have the potential to connect the world in a way that can save hundred of millions of lives. That should be our goal.

Everything French is amazing, especially creme brulee, but then burnt sugar works for me in any capacity.