There was no such thing as perfection in this world, only moments of such extreme transparency that you forgot yourself, a holy mercy if there ever was one.

It is sort of weird being honored for the worst day of your life.

If you could figure out how to live with family then you'd gone a long way toward finding your peace.

As if sorrow is the true reality? Without ever putting his mind to it, he's come to believe that loss is the standard trajectory.

America loves to pray, God knows. America prays and prays and prays, it is the land of unchained prayer, and all this ceremonial praying is hard on Billy.

Americans are children who must go somewhere else to grow up, and sometimes die.

I like to kill my enemies and listen to the lamentations of their women

It is far too late for bloodless hands.

Life can be hard in the real world.

People who know me know I'm strong, but I'm vulnerable.

How poor you are, September. You make my heart groan. I know about Homesickness. It begins with H. What will you do?

My faith always has been and always will be important to me.

... any fictionis bound to be transposed autobiography.

I believe the world of the spirit is in general greatly neglected and not at all served by the practice of faith as we know it, because religion isn't individual enough.

...one should be gentle with the ignorant, for they are the chosen of God.

A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that does not weaken with the passage of time.

Our daily objectives should include an honest effort to improve on yesterday.