It's a big world, and I really like it.

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.

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.

I'm always aware of writing around things I can't do, and I've come to think that that's actually what 'style' is - an avoidance of your deficiencies.

The more people grow, the more they attain personal mastery. They become assets to the organization, not liabilities..

There is a radicalism in all getting and a conservatism in all keeping. Lovemaking is radical while marriage is conservative.

You have to be a little scared of what you're doing. Otherwise, you just paint the same masterpiece a little worse.

You should know," said Estella. "I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all the success, take all the failure; in short, take me.

I have no way of knowing what you are going to feel when you look at one of my paintings; I only know what I feel.

Most children's first words are 'Mama' or 'Daddy.' Mine were, 'Do I have to use my own money?'

I have so often been mistaken that I no longer blush for it

Ability is a wonderful thing, but its value is greatly enhanced by dependability. Ability implies repeatability and accountability.

Words from the past: "It's a clever idea, Mr. Bell, but don't wire us, we'll wire you.

Heroes, it would seem, exist always and a certain worship of them.