Every animal that walks the earth, or swims, or flies is precious beyond description, something so rare and wonderful that it equals the stars or the ocean or the mind of man.

I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.

Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries.

Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today because if you enjoy it today, you can do it again tomorrow.

The really great writers are people like Emily Brontë who sit in a room and write out of their limited experience and unlimited imagination.

Scientists dream about doing great things. Engineers do them.

I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Anyone who wants reassurance of that should read one of my first drafts. But I'm one of the world's great rewriters.

I'm not a very good writer, but I'm an excellent rewriter.

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home.

If your book doesn't keep you up nights when you are writing it, it won't keep anyone up nights reading it.

An age is called Dark not because the light fails to shine, but because people refuse to see it.

As is typical of this God [of Israel], he calls his people into freedom in the most unlikely place.

No matter how many compromises were made along the way, no matter what happens in the future, a book is a thing to behold.

Memories, real and irreplaceable, all of them. The happy ones, the bitter ones, the terrified and the poignant.

Freedom is the most sophisticated form of control. The best lies use the truth.

Thanksgiving is not only being aware of the abundance of good in the world but embracing it.

I can see criticizing, complaining, protesting - anything but choosing not to vote. Too many people died for us not to vote.

The man who has a girl in every port is not a sailor but a wholesaler.

I said nothing. I’m good at saying nothing. I don’t like talking. I could go the rest of my life without saying another word, if I had to.

I'll fight anybody my trainer puts me in with because I'm confident I can beat any fighter in the world. If anybody can see I'm almost a master at evading punches coming at me.

If 13 is unlucky, then 12 and 14 are guilty by association.