Sometimes you don't even know what you want until you find out you can't have it.

One of the grubby truths about a loss is that you don't just mourn the dead person, you mourn the person you got to be when the lost one was alive. This loss might even be what affects you the most.

If the condition of grief is nearly universal, its transactions are exquisitely personal.

In the nonstop tsunami of global information, librarians provide us with floaties and teach us to swim.

Anybody who's gone through puberty has understood what it feels like to be an outcast and alone.

Young children give us glimpses of some things that are eternal.

Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together more beautifully.

Such a courageous boy I was. To act brazenly under scrutiny and risk further injury to my wounded heart. Ah, the resilience, the blind, dumb persistence of youth.

what's life without a spice of stupidity

I think if you don't love people and aren't fascinated by them, you'll never succeed as a portrait photographer, because your pictures will look cold.

The dead should be judged like criminals, impartially, but they should be allowed the benefit of the doubt.

When I was younger, I never thought there could be anything better than the glory of battle. (Sparhawk) And now? (Taryn) Now I would much rather coax a smile from your face. (Sparhawk)

Taste your legs, sire: put them into motion.