To pray is to learn to believe in in a transformation of self and world, which seems, empirically, impossible.

The rules of this house are written in water. I must either sink or swim.

We all know there is something wrong with our culture, the state of our world, and with ourselves.

The world is chock-full of monsters.

Woman's power is over the affections. A beautiful dominion is hers; but she risks its forfeiture when she seeks to extend it.

When you know you are dying, self-deceptions fly from your bedside like embers off a bonfire.

I think it's important to let each thing you write teach you how to write it. You must listen to what you do. Let it be in control. I don't step in until I know what it demands of me.

The Godfather has, maybe, one good scene.

All our efforts to attain immortality-by statesmanship, by conquest, by science or the arts-are equally vain in the long run, because the long run is longer than any of us can imagine.

It's Web, and then everything else. It's social media first, and everything else.