I spent my 20s working in patient care at a large university hospital, an experience that has informed all my work and has given me a lot of human observation to draw on.

The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.

Poets speak of hope in ladies smiles, but give me a smirk any day, I say.

Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.

Don't wish to be normal. Wish to be yourself. To the hilt. Find out what you're best at, and develop it, and hopscotch your weaknesses. Wish to be great at whatever you are.

I'm very interested in the impact of biotechnology on the way people live.

If you can't be seven feet tall, be seven feet smart.

Aim high. You may still miss the target, but at least you won't shoot your foot off.

Since no one is perfect, it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of imperfection. Yet they were accomplished, somehow, all the same.

When you give each other everything, it becomes an even trade. Each wins all.

Adversity does teach who your real friends are.

...that you should be nice to everyone until a person gives you reason not to be, and sometimes even then.

Whenever it comes to love, Remember the part about having confidence.

The Japanese bureaucracy is unique. It is also very powerful, although it is now the object of so much criticism. Many of Japan's brightest made it a pillar of strength and continuity.

My dad's got a brilliant eye for scripts 'cos he's a literary agent. He and my agent read a load of scripts and filter them.

Form is emptiness, emptiness is form" states the Heart Sutra, one of the best known ancient Buddhist texts. The essence of all things is emptiness.

Sing lullabie, as women do,Wherewith they bring their babes to rest;And lullabie can I sing to,As womanly as can the best.

Country music historically has been sort of middle-aged people's music.

I would think it a greater happiness to gain one soul to Christ than mountains of silver and gold to myself.

Metaphysics notwithstanding, I also insert myself in my fictions for no loftier purpose than to give me pleasure: to see myself performing onstage.

The people have spoken, but it will take a while to determine exactly what they said.