I like [Barak] Obama. I like him. So how far does rationality help to persuade anybody? You know, I'm not so sure.

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.

Never, in peace or war, commit your virtue or your happiness to the future.

Character is what God and the angels know of us reputation is what men and women think of us.

I have stepped off the relationship scene to come to terms with myself. I have spent most of my adult life being 'someone's girlfriend', and now I am happy being single.

I know it sounds stupid and cliche, but I just want to get better. I want to keep improving.

One of the agonies of being an author is to know when to stop writing.

If you invent frequently and are willing to fail, then you never get to that point where you really need to bet the whole company.

Do not feel discouraged by all the challenges and hardships you might face. I ask you not to forget that, like those who came here before you, you bring many gifts to this new nation of yours.

The process of living is the process of reacting to stress.

It's a hard life as a professional cricketer. It's not as easy as everyone makes out. To survive you need a tough hide.

Rather than spend millions getting film stars, I am quite happy to be brand ambassador myself.