I think coldness is chic among writers, and particularly ironic coldness. What is absolutely not allowable is sadness. People will do anything rather than to acknowledge that they are sad.

It was actually a women's writing group I belonged to in graduate school that gave me the courage to move from poetry to fiction.

Oh thee! Lets fill my mind with joy of kindness to make joyful me.Let me see the sufferings and agony.Let me feel the sadness and misery.Still be kind to thee.

The girl in the mirror wasn't who I wanted to be and her life wasn't the one I wanted to have.

I don't think most books can be justifiably translated on screen. The film versions can't convey the right emotion, fuel your imagination or allow you to visualise every line the way books do.

Sometimes people start to meditate and they get a headache. It's because they're trying too hard. You're pulling in too much energy.

Anger makes us all stupid.

It's better to fade away like an old soldier than to burn out.

This emotion I'm feeling now, this is love, right?

The true mark of maturity is when someone hurts you and you try and understand their situation instead of hurting them back.

The autumn breeze rises on the shore at Fukiage- and those white chrysanthemums are they flowers? or not? or only breakers on the beach?

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you aren't completely embarassed yet, but you glimpse tomorrow's embarrassment?