I'm a big fan of the Russians: Isaac Babel is just an exquisite line-to-line stylist.

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.

But that would leave Paxton to fend for herself, and the last thing any woman wanted in this kind of situation was to look around and see all the people who could help her doing nothing.

We were enjoying one of those rare summers of utter freedom – no financial responsibility, no debts, no time owing to anybody.

It is very nearly impossible... to become an educated person in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.

Whoever shall introduce into public affairs the principles of primitive Christianity will change the face of the world.

Nothing can allay the rage of biting envy.

Blackberry Smoke is my favorite band!

Dear Mr. President, can I ask you a question, when the bombs fall down will they hurt everyone in my family?

There's no doubt that there's a struggling in birth, and a beauty and a horror and fear and joy too.

God isn't dead - he's just missing in action.

Children are not our property, and they are not ours to control any more that we were our parents' property or theirs to control.