If you bring forth what is within you, it will save you. If you do not bring it forth, it will destroy you.

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.

Silly of me not to have realized it. One often finds Greek temples lurking in the woods of English estates. Sneaky things, temples.

opportunity only shows you the door but not the end of the road

Get someone-anyone-to read books to you. Having books read to you at any age is the supremo ultimato of living.

Resentments are like swallowing poison and waiting for the other person to die.

Kenyon Martin is the 2nd best player in the Eastern Conference.

You should never be mean to other girls. I don't care what grade you're in. Be nice to people until you're my age... and you have your own TV show.

Don't think because there's a ring on your finger, you needn't try anymore.

Rooms should be timeless.

Of all my inventions, I liked the phonograph best

At certain point, you realize it's easy to play music for the rest of your life: just don't sell your guitar. Maybe you get a day job, but as long as you have a guitar, you can play.