Recounting the strange is like telling one's dreams: one can communicate the events of a dream, but not the emotional content, the way that a dream can colour one's entire day.

Writing's a lot like cooking. Sometimes the cake won't rise, no matter what you do, and every now and again the cake tastes better than you ever could have dreamed it would.

We wrapped our dreams in words and patterned the words so that they would live forever, unforgettable.

Do not lose hope — what you seek will be found. Trust ghosts. Trust those that you have helped to help you in their turn. Trust dreams. Trust your heart, and trust your story. (from 'Instructions')

Know that diamonds and roses are as uncomfortable when they tumble from one's lips as toads and frogs: colder, too, and sharper, and they cut.

On the whole, stories don't write themselves.

Never use five words if you can get away with one, eh? I've known dead men talk more than you do.

I was not so old that I would deny my own senses.

If we do not fight to create a future there will be no future for any of us.

I believe we owe it to each other to tell stories. It's as close to a credo as I have or will, I suspect, ever get.

Because stories start in minds-- they aren't artifacts or natural phenomena.

It takes not a few centuries, or even millenniums, but millions of years for a subtle evolutionary change to become noticeable.

Does anyone know how to start a fire?"Blank stares. "So we can't start a fire, " [Jamie] said. "We can't fly. We can't create a force field. We are the most bullshit superheroes.

It was the responsibility of a senior fireman to teach as well as to do.

Your back may be pushed against the wall, but your brain is not.

When I was first starting out as a kid, I tried to pad my résumé with everything I had ever done-ice-skate, carry a tune.

You don't ever want to appear like you're wearing too much makeup. If you have a heavy eye and a heavy lip, people are like, 'Wow, what are you trying to cover up?'

We have to constantly ask ourselves: "Who am I?"

To the people that have said I'm too small, I'm not fast enough, I don't have what it takes, I'm not strong enough. THANK YOU

From the holy scriptures, heaven-sent lift will be found for heaven-sent duties.

Even a child who's above average on self-control could improve their financial outcomes in mid-life if they improved their self-control skills early on.