When I write I know that I'm going to have to produce 40 percent more than I need.

I tend to foster drama via bleakness. If I want the reader to feel sympathy for a character, I cleave the character in half, on his birthday. And then it starts raining. And he's made of sugar.

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded . . . sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.

Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial.

Developing our sympathetic compassion is not only possible but the only reason for us to be here on earth.

According to me, your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving. Hurry up. Speed it along. Start right now.

It's a big world, and I really like it.

Character is that sum total of moments we can't explain.

The generalizing writer is like the passionate drunk, stumbling into your house mumbling: I know I'm not being clear, exactly, but don't you kind of feel what I'm feeling?

Kindness, it turns out, is hard - it starts out all rainbows and puppy dogs, and expands to include . . . well, EVERYTHING.

A man in love can do extraordinary things, I don’t care if you’re an angel, you’re my angel, and I won’t let you go.

Create your own realitybecome your own rockstar, find your passion.. .and we will be here every step of the way with you

Curving back within myself I create the world around me.

The only thing more certain than the hatred of enemies is the envy of friends.

You stood over me and you made a promise to me, as sacred as any vow. And I can understand why you're angry, but you can't blame me. You can't hate me for taking your word.

Don't you expect a rainbow coming out of the tub of bacon strips at the end of the buffet line?

There is so much chaos and dysfunction going on with the federal government that Dallas can't wait any longer for federal help.

A homeless man standing at the off-ramp: the question in these moments isn't whether Jesus is in Him, but in me.

I have a habit of leaving places at the wrong time, just when something big may have happened for me.

I don't think that you can let the storms of life overwhelm you. When you do that, you are no better than the craziness that caused you to be under attack.