I want all my books to provoke some kind of response in the reader, to make them think something or feel something or both, and for that to become a part of them and work into their own lives.

A mistake made with good in your heart is still a mistake, but it is one for which you must forgive yourself.

Libraries hold the wisdom of the world and the stories of the ages - available to everyone, free of charge!

My first publication was a haiku in a children's magazine when I was 9 years old. I received one dollar for it! I gave the check to my dad for Christmas, and he framed it and hung it over his desk.

Reading for writers is like training for athletes.

I can give advice to anyone interested in writing in one word: Read! I think it's much more important to be a reader than to be a writer!

Why was it that pride and foolishness were so often close companions?

I do think that part of literature's job is to comment on and participate in the social issues of the time.

Most writers adore their editors, and I'm no exception.

I used to sit home with my computer and write. After the Newbery, I probably spend more than half my time on the road.

God bless Interlibrary Loan. I pay a lot of library fines. In the case of 'A Single Shard,' I was using books that hadn't been checked out in 30 years, so I didn't feel too bad.

What sweetness is left in life, if you take away friendship? Robbing life of friendship is like robbing the world of the sun. A true friend is more to be esteemed than kinsfolk.

When you've seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there.

At the same time, television theatre became more visibly active.

For all is like an ocean, all flows and connects; touch it in one place and it echoes at the other end of the world.

Words are the part of silence that can be spoken.

Really ain't one to boast, but I'm doing better than most

A lot of actors get concerned about their own image, even going so far as to rewrite a movie to best serve that image. All I want to do is be in good movies.

I think it's important to stretch as you get older, but I try to do basically all the things I did when I played, except I can't do them as well and as much.

There can never be deep peace between two spirits, never mutual respect, until, in their dialogue, each stands for the whole world.

We seldom learn the true want of what we have till it is discovered that we can have no more.