Every place is a good place, only time goes wrong.

Even the most innocent person, when cornered, is capable of a heartless crime.

To write about a struggle amidst the struggling: one must hope that the muddling will end someday.

What a long way it is from one life to another: yet why write if not for that distance; if things can be let go, every before replaced by an after.

A real dreamer must have a mutual trust with time.

She wonders if this is what people call falling in love, the desire to be with someone for every minute of the rest of her life so strong that sometimes she is frightened of herself.

Only the smaller fish pay for the goverment's face-lift. The big ones - they just become bigger and fatter.

What is revolution except a systematic way for one species to eat another alive?

I would never describe a cloud as 'fluffy'—in Chinese or in English.

The decaying that had dragged on for too long had only turned tragedy into nuisance; death, when it strikes, better completes its annihilating act on the first try.

Regarding heroism, I grew up in a culture where you learn about heroes and heroines all the time. In a way, when you call someone a hero or heroine, it's the same as calling them a villain.

But, God knows best, I concluded.

One man's fool is just another man's savior.

More of anything only makes us more of what we already are. If we are happy, it can bring more happiness. If we are depressed, it will make us more depressed.

True religion is not just in the creed you profess, but its also in the life you lead.

I really want readers to put themselves into the shoes of each character. So the opening lines are an orienting technique: this is where you are, this is who you are. Go.

When I hear Khmer poets, when they recite their poems, I know what they're talking about, I get it right away.

The gentleman desires to be halting in speech but quick in action.

... the unnatural ways we substitute for the natural prove not enough and soon there must be more and more unnaturalness, more and more violence.

I was proud to call Dr Rupert a friend. He was always a wonderful source of support and kindness.

A weapon, I told Horus. I need a weapon. I reached into the Duat and pulled out an ostrich feather. “Really?” I yelled. Horus didn’t answer