(M)aybe we too busy being flowers or fairies or strawberries instead of something honest and worthy of respect . . . you know . . . like being people.

The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible

Words are to be taken seriously. I try to take seriously acts of language. Words set things in motion. I've seen them doing it. Words set up atmospheres, electrical fields, charges.

Revolution begins with the self, in the self.... We'd better take the time to fashion revolutionary selves, revolutionary lives, revolutionary relationships. Mouth don't win the war.

Writing is a legitimate way, an important way, to participate in the empowerment of the community that names me.

The only proper mask to wear in life is your own damn face.

TAKE HEART TO FLAT OUT DECIDE TO BE WELL AND STRIDE INTO THE FUTURE, SANE AND WHOLE

The job of the writer is to make revolution irresistible.

When you dream, you dialogue with aspects of yourself that normally are not with you in the daytime and you discover that you know a great deal more than you thought you did.

Write a lot and hit the streets. A writer who doesn't keep up with what's out there ain't gonna be out there.

Writing is one of the ways I participate in transformation.

After all, there was something rather pleasant in knowing that you were misunderstood. It made you feel different from everyone else.

All hero's are born out of the embers that linger after the fire of great tragedy. Children of Ankh series

Some Christians say god is the source of morality, these people have clearly never read the bible.

The longer we spent together, the more she discovered about me. The things I didn't want her to know. The darkness and the anger and the pain.

I was arrested in 1965 for opposing the war in Vietnam. There were 39 of us arrested that day. But thousands opposed us. And the majority of the people in the country supported the war then.

I write books to relieve ­myself of pain. That's the prime motivator to write. Period.

I admire Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet. I like a lot of comedians. I like Cameron Diaz - she's funny and has a very light spirit. That's quite rare nowadays. There are many actresses I admire.

Nothing optional -- from homosexuality to adultery -- is ever made punishable unless those who do the prohibiting (and exact the fierce punishment) have a repressed desire to participate.

Unite has a great dry shampoo called 7Seconds. After a hot yoga class, when I'm super sweaty I spray this on and my hair comes back to life. Miraculous!

If you're going to tear down a hero, you should never forget that you're tearing down someone else's hero. You're tearing down somebody else's son. You might have to face her one day.