What feeling is so nice as a child's hand in yours? So small, so soft and warm, like a kitten huddling in the shelter of your clasp.

Young women especially have something invested in being nice people, and it's only when you have children that you realize you're not a nice person at all, but generally a selfish bully.

Let me remember that each life must follow its own course, and that what happens to other people has absolutely nothing to do with what happens to me.

Death is the perfect knowing.

simply to ask a blessing upon one's circumstances, whatever they are, is somehow to improve them, and to tap some mysterious source of energy and joy.

A child's hand in yours - what tenderness and power it arouses. You are instantly the very touchstone of wisdom and strength.

The man or woman who treasures his friends is usually solid gold himself.

When you write from the heart, you not only light the dark path of your readers, you light your own way as well.

the habit of shutting doors behind us is invaluable to happiness; we must learn to shut life's doors to cut out the futile wind of past mistakes.

Man is the only creature whose emotions are entangled with his memory.

There must be some deep psychological reason why we turn so instinctively toward home at this special time. . . . A place where every day will be Christmas, with everybody there together. At home.

I write awe-thoughts flowing in my mind.

Fiction is an ancient virtual reality technology that specializes in simulating human problems.

This was different, spontaneous, unrestricted. This was what dancing was supposed to feel like - like freedom.

You can't go to medical school and come out and be like, 'I'm going to be a dog catcher.' That would be so pointless.

Yet we didn't fix anything. Our roads are bad, our bridges are bad, our tunnels are bad, our schools are bad, our hospitals are bad.

Society is not a disease, it is a disaster. What a stupid miracle that one can live in it.

I deem as heroic those who have the harder task, face it unflinchingly and live. In this world women do that.

The only time I can ever remember Steven crying over any of it was after my treatment, when I tried to use my foot on his bass drum pedal, and we realized I could never play a drum set.

If you're informed, you make an informed choice. You understand the quality of certain things and you understand the history of certain things.

The mountain represents your purpose in life. You and your people will enjoy the greatest success and satisfaction if you relentlessly pursue your purpose.