I think the path for a young writer might be one that says, "I have to accept myself, this is what I am. I can't eradicate my defects. I can work on them."

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.

We must never forget to pray, and to ask God to remember us when He is arranging things, so that we too may feel safe and have no anxiety about what is going to happen.

Initially, the truth may hurt, but lies hurt always.

I have this beast. He comes and goes at will.Silence.He's very powerful.Silence.He has control over me.Silence.I want to come and go at will.Silence.I want to be the powerful one.

A passive mindset "manages" to live with mediocre, but an active mindset "leads" to change until excellence results.

Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart.

Change is one of my favourite words.

[Donald] Trump still thinks he's in a campaign.

Capitalism is destroying Mother Earth, and to destroy Mother Earth is to destroy humanity.

If we're talking about healthcare lets talk about a healthy diet. If there is anything better in the world in dealing with a healthcare problem it's prevention! We CAN afford prevention!

We can fly, you know. We just don't know how to think the right thoughts and levitate ourselves off the ground.