I often write about reconciling. Reconciling, or maybe half-reconciling between antagonists, between people who are deadly enemies.

Every single pleasure I can imagine or have experienced is more delightful, more of a pleasure, if you take it in small sips, if you take your time. Reading is not an exception.

Fundamentalist s live life with an exclamation point. I prefer to live my life with a question mark.

Writing a poem is like having an affair, a one-night stand; a short story is a romance, a relationship; a novel is a marriage-one has to be cunning, devise compromises, and make sacrifices.

Words create conceptions and self-conceptions and ultimately nations. They can start and stop wars. They can would and heal. Choosing words carefully is a moral responsibility.

A conflict begins and ends in the hearts and minds of people, not in the hilltops.

All of my novels are democracies.

The only way to keep a dream, any dream at all, to keep a dream perfect and rosy and intact and unsullied is never to live it out.

The opposite of compromise is not integrity. The opposite of compromise is not idealism. The opposite of compromise is fanaticism and death.

I wrote The Same Sea not as a political allegory about Israelis and Palestinians. I wrote it about something much more gutsy and immediate. I wrote it as a piece of chamber music.

Now, Israel is a fulfillment, and as a fulfillment, it is flawed. The fact that it is flawed is not so much a testimony about the failures of Israel. No, it is a testimony about the nature of dreams.

White? That's good. virginal. He'll be reminded this is a first for you and hopefully won't just impale you on his pork sword.

A lot of guys in jail tattoo their hands.

It’s a great privilege to dream.

I read books and talked to people. I mean that's kind of how one learns anything. There's lots of great books out there & lots of smart people.

I sped through heaven and saw god at work. I suffered holy pains. I dropped all my defenses and was afraid of nothing in the world. I accepted all things and to all things I gave up my heart.

I have health. I have a wonderful support system. I have the admiration of millions of strangers, which I do not underestimate

I love having candles, especially when you get downtime. I could just pass out seeing the flame flicker with the lights off.

I want to rob a bank with a BB gun. "Give me all your money or I will give you a dimple! I will be rich, you will be cute. We both win."

You know very well that whether you are on page one or page thirty depends on whether they fear you. It's as simple as that.

Visualising something organises one's ability to accomplish it.