I had spent years thinking about one thing while I was doing another. I had, in fact, prided myself on being able to do two things at once.

Oh, that sound? I'm in the hot tub, reading a novel.

Many people, myself among them, feel better at the mere sight of a book.

Every first draft is perfect, because all a first draft has to do is exist.

I suspected that there were things he knew that I had been waiting all my life to learn.

In many ways, being honest about 'Huckleberry Finn' goes right to the heart of whether we can be honest about our heritage and our identity as Americans.

Even if my marriage is falling apart and my children are unhappy, there is still a part of me that says, 'God, this is fascinating!'

Take naps. Often new ideas come together when you are half asleep, but you have to train yourself to remember them.

Candy is my fuel. Ice cream, too.

But what truly horsey girls discover in the end is that boyfriends, husbands, children, and careers are the substitute-for horses

In every society, the artists will be the ones who set themselves up as contrary to whatever the society expects.

She prayed for that all through the night, uncertain to Whom or what, but with a feeling that almost resembled faith.

In any society, fanatics who hate don't hate only me - they hate you, too. They hate everybody.

Love and marriage are wonderful arenas in which to place a character. We are most likely to risk our morals and beliefs while in love. Betrayal gives tremendous insights into a character as well.

A politician weakly and amiably in the right, is no match for a politician tenaciously and pugnaciously in the wrong.

I can't even say what my greatest fear is because I, I can't even imagine. Being without my family... I can't even say it because it makes me cry.

Even the sadistic misogyny of Buddha and Christ was nothing but an attempt to gain the better of a vastly superior opponent.

Lamar is just Lamar. My teammates probably can explain that a little better than I can. If I just go out there and do what I do and be myself, it shouldn't be a problem.

I don't use simple words. I make games and puzzles with my songs.

Defend yourselves! If people don't defend their rights, they lose them.

Life is too wonderful, too full, too short and strength too limited to contain its wonder.