Identity politics are wearisome; you don't want to go on speaking for any one group as a writer.

The great thing about a short story is that it doesn't have to trawl through someone's whole life; it can come in glancingly from the side.

The world is always changing brightness and hotness and soundness, I never know how it's going to be the next minute.

Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing.

I look back one more time. It's like a crater, a hole where something happened.

Ma's still nodding. "You're the one who matters, though. Just you." I shake my head till it's wobbling because there's no just me.

It’s called mind over matter. If we don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” When a bit of me hurts, I always mind.

Books are the air I breathe, so I don't notice the seasons.

If I was made of cake I'd eat myself before somebody else could.

I remember manners, that's when people are scared to make other persons mad.

When I tell her what I’m thinking and she tells me what she’s thinking, our each ideas jumping into the other’s head, like coulouring blue crayon on top of yellow that makes green.

Music moves the body, soul and spirit to the bliss.

Love may start out as a good feeling, but to love someone long-term is an act of the will.

Pray to God one minute, listen to Him for one hour.

Being a warrior and being a struggler has been forced on me by oppression, otherwise I would have been free to be so much more.

I have discovered that the people who believe most strongly in the next life do the most good in the present one.

There's lots of different feminist groups. It's not as straightforward as just looking like a plumber.

Madame de Stael thought it was pride in mankind to endeavour to penetrate the secret of the universe; and speaking of the higher metaphysics she said: "I prefer the Lord's Prayer to it all."

Truly as the sun can rot or mend, love can make one bestial or make a beast a man.

It is necessary to be tolerant, in order to be tolerated.

Take short views, hope for the best and trust in God.