In Israel, the role of the writer is dictated by the language in which you write. Writers see themselves as cultural prophets.

Translators are like ninjas. If you notice them, they’re no good.

My father - I once asked him what was his greatest achievement. He said his greatest achievement was that he fought in five wars in the infantry, always on the front line, and never hurt anybody.

According to Gur's theory of boredom, everything that happens in the world today is because of boredom: love, war, inventions, fake fireplaces - ninety-five percent of all that is pure boredom.

It's kind of a reflex for me to ignore my own wishes and think about other people first.

If you want to learn how to be happy, you have to know what is sadness first.

Rabbits are played. Nowadays it's all about the turtles. Tell them it's a ninja, they'll freak.

The one who swallows cactuses with spines should not complain about hemorrhoids.

Writing a story is kind of like surfing, as opposed to the novel, where you use a GPS to get somewhere. With surfing, you kind of jump.

For three months, a person sits and looks at you, imagining a kiss.

Most of the Jewish writer friends I have are American, and I feel closer to them because they're always obsessed with one issue - identity: what does it mean to be an American Jew?

Letting ourselves be forgiven is one of the most difficult healings we will undertake. And one of the most fruitful. (79)

Simplicity is the essence of genius.

It's sort of an action flick. You can't be that funny trying to steal diamonds.

The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her flamingo.

I hope that I can turn some of my fans that might be homophobic or supporters that might be homophobic and say, "You know what, we're all one people. This is love."

The worst nightmare for al Qaeda is to come into a community that feels supported and has hope.

Anybody who is thinking of applying for the Scotland job in the next eight or nine years should go get themselves checked out by about 15 psychiatrists.

History is merely gossip

The conscious utterance of thought, by speech or action, to any end, is art.

No leader can create sustainable, significant change without a reservoir of good will. Without that, you always tend to compromise with failure.