My starting point was the search for my identity in foreign places, in places where I am estranged from myself.

If we have too much clarity, we might not be compelled to continue searching for new ideas.

For me, staying in place might mean staying with my own thoughts, even if the body keeps traveling. I might be experiencing new things, but I'm also here, with myself.

When I first started working it was as if I didn't understand myself. The fact that I didn't understand myself was tied up with not understanding where I came from, where I began.

One of the first issues I dealt with was the struggle to find a language, to find my own words.

I never give too much thought to the idea of universality.

One gets wrapped up in reacting to ones own reputation, which can be a kind of trap.

I am a socialist, so I am not worried about socialism. I am worried about dictators who are putting everyone into a socialist state for their own benefit.

When I visit new places, I like to see the markets.

It was a subtle refinement of God to learn Greek when he wished to write a book – and that he did not learn it better.

I’ve never been one to go to church, but I’ve al was ways believed in a creative intelligence behind the ongoing riddle of the world.

Is adult amusement killing our children, or is killing our children amusing adults?

Point of view is not something I consciously decide. Almost always, when I come up with a plot I find that the point of view has automatically arrived with it, part and parcel of the story.

Admiration from my readers inspire me, and the only 'formula' I believe in towards making a good writer is: 'to thine own self be true!'

God wants to bring victory to a people who recognize who brought it.

It's fun to discover things. I wouldn't want everything laid out, simply and too obviously.

Every great thing starts with an idea, followed by a doubt and finally a resolve to abandon or pursue. Victory is a treacherous journey.

It's not easy to make friends when you're an adult writer outside of academia, especially when you work alone in a little room for twelve hours a day, and so I wrote toward what I most longed for.

One can't prescribe books, even the best books, to people unless one knows a good deal about each individual person.