I think that, in Hebrew, it's like the language creates a more unique and specific universe even before the story.

Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, they’re no good.

My father - I once asked him what was his greatest achievement. He said his greatest achievement was that he fought in five wars in the infantry, always on the front line, and never hurt anybody.

According to Gur's theory of boredom, everything that happens in the world today is because of boredom: love, war, inventions, fake fireplaces - ninety-five percent of all that is pure boredom.

It's kind of a reflex for me to ignore my own wishes and think about other people first.

If you want to learn how to be happy, you have to know what is sadness first.

Rabbits are played. Nowadays it's all about the turtles. Tell them it's a ninja, they'll freak.

The one who swallows cactuses with spines should not complain about hemorrhoids.

Writing a story is kind of like surfing, as opposed to the novel, where you use a GPS to get somewhere. With surfing, you kind of jump.

For three months, a person sits and looks at you, imagining a kiss.

Most of the Jewish writer friends I have are American, and I feel closer to them because they're always obsessed with one issue - identity: what does it mean to be an American Jew?

Discouragement leads away from the right path, and accomplishes the devil’s desire for destruction

You're not beautiful, you're breathtaking.

The biggest quality in successful people I think is an impatience with negative thinking ... my feeling was even if it's as bad as I think it is we'll make it work.

As the nation-state has monopolized habeas corpus … on balance we have far more people in prison, federal and state, than ever.

You cannot be brave without fear.

Canada has one of the highest rates of insanity in any civilized country and one reason might be that life in many places is so desperately dull.

Let your heart be awakened to the transforming power of gratefulness.

The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.

I don't use the techniques I learned at NYU much anymore.

We may justly condemn ourselves as the greatest sinners we know because we know more of the folly of our own heart than we do of other people's.