I am always considering the reader. Although this is admittedly kind of odd: Which reader? On what day? In what mood? For me, that "reader" is actually just me, if I had never read the story before.

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.

I still eat a burger at a counter with ketchup dripping down my face.

I've always been a huge fan of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies.

Mental health is seen as a massive drag to have to write about - worthy, dull. Something you should 'have' to read / write about.

It took us 50 months in Germany, post World War II to go from the end of the war to a national election.

I'm trying to figure out if I love art enough to be poor.

Every time you get knocked down you get up stronger.

After a lifetime of silence, it is difficult then to speak.

I still love playing music. It was all I ever wanted to do, and I got the chance to do it.

Restfulness is a quality for cattle; the virtues are all active, life is alert.

I was a wayward kid, a rambunctious and angry teenager, but I found acting as a fifteen-year-old.