If it takes you seven years to write each novel, you need a patron. And I would rather have my corporate self as my patron than any arts council or bestower of grants.

Childbirth changed my perception of my wife. She was now the bloodied special forces soldier who had fought and risked everything for our family.

Islam is not a race, yet Islamophobia partakes of racist characteristics.

Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.

It seems an obvious thing to say, but you should not imagine that we Pakistanis are all potential terrorists, just as we should not imagine that you Americans are all undercover assassins.

I think sometimes feeling that you've been marginalized opens you up to the realization that, in their own lives, almost everyone experiences marginalization, a kind of foreigner sense.

All human stories are migration stories because everyone is a refugee from their own childhood.

Time only moves in one direction. Remember that. Things always change.

I think massive migration is inevitable. As sea levels rise, as climate change happens, as fertile fields become arid, as wars are fought, people are going to move. They always have.

When the uncertain future becomes the past, the past in turn becomes uncertain.

It's important to have a non-nostalgic view and say, let's look forward, because if we don't, all we'll hear are voices telling us to go back.

...someone who knows she is beautiful, who is always told that she is beautiful, but who, deep down, does not feel very beautiful.

Let your body be your holy temple.

If you want to breed something, breed bravehearts, not soulless racehorses.

What to say if I was wise and on your age I will take the chances and take Reddit Collection #1 and #2... But if you are hungry... go and buy one sandwich!

Don't ever let anyone tell you that college is for smart people. College eats smart people alive.

What's the opposite of suck? Un-suck?

I learned there's a big difference between juniors and the pros.

I want to see my kids for dinner, I want to put them down at night, I want to see their soccer games after school.

I look very foolish. To a lot of people I look foolish in what I'm doing and I understand that. The only thing that matters is how I feel and if I let how they feel affect me it'll change how I feel.