I guess what I'm trying to say is that whatever weirdness was going to be in there, I felt, had to be earned. And it had to be required by the emotional needs of the book.

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.

There is a beautiful village in every country.

Filtering solar radiation with air pollution is a bad idea.

In a time where the world is becoming personalized, when the mobile phone, the burger, everything has its own personal identity, how should we perceive ourselves and how should we perceive others?

If you wish women to love you be original; I know a man who used to wear felt boots summer and winter & women fell in love with him.

Whether you have a great game or a terrible game, tomorrow's another day and you've got to come out here and compete.

Season of Miracles is a triumphant story with a heart of gold. Laced with wit and wisdom, the story had me chuckling out loud one minute and wiping away tears the next. Highly recommended!

A person with power has control of their emotions. A person with power can stop fear, stop depression, or they can augment a positive emotion.

I do not think it worth while to wait for enjoyment until there is some real opportunity for it.

I believe in the principles that built America, I believe in the Constitution.

The 'peace' the gospel brings is never the absence of conflict, but an ineffable divine reassurance within the heart of conflict; a peace that surpasses understanding.