It occurred to Anita that hatred and dislike and even indifference were all luxuries, born of the mistaken belief that anything could last forever.

Why had he assumed time was some sort of infinite resource? Now the hourglass had busted open, and what he’d always assumed was just a bunch of sand turned out to be a million tiny diamonds.

Karass: A group of people linked in a cosmically significant manner, even when superficial linkages are not evident

Fiction described reality better than non-fiction.

Do you think it is better to fail at something worthwhile, or succeed at something meaningless

Success is no proof of virtue. In the case of a book, quick acclaim is presumptive evidence of a lack of substance and originality.

Don’t try to smell the flowers without planting them.

In reality nobody can grasp anything permanently in life. Absolutely nothing. Somethings may stay in memory for a while but eventually that too fades away.

I wouldn't be where I am without my fans, and I am very thankful for them.

You've got to experiment to figure out what works.

If the director's a communist, whatever, he's a communist. All I care is that he directs. For the actor, the same thing. All you really care is that he comes in and performs.

In the long run, only woman remains true to mankind's foremost mission. Whatever she achieves, she achieves through herself, and alone. Man's master is the--public.

To grow is sometimes to hurt, but who would return to smallness?

Our attitude in the face of life's challenges determines our suffering or our freedom.

Soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer.