You are a name, not a number. Never forget that name, whatever they tell you here. You will always be Chaya—life—to me.

Time may heal all wounds, but it does not erase the scars.

Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.

A book is a wonderful present. Though it may grow worn, it will never grow old.

Childrens books change lives. Stories pour into the hearts of children and help make them what they become.

Love the writing, love the writing, love the writing... the rest will follow.

It's never perfect when I write it down the first time, or the second time, or the fifth time. But it always gets better as I go over it and over it.

Take a step, breathe in the world, give it out again in story, poem, song, art.

Ideas are the cheapest part of the writing. They are free. The hard part is what you do with ideas you've gathered.

Language helps develp life as surely as it reflects life. It is a most important part of our human condition.

Stories," he'd said, his voice low and almost husky, "we are made up of stories. And even the one's that seem the most like lies can be our deepest hidden truths.

Art tends toward balance, order, judgment of relative values, the laws of growth, the economy of living – very good things for anyone to be interested in.

When you shall have learned to know, and to love, you will still suffer. The day is born in tears. The luminous weep, if only over those in darkness.

Sometimes I think the loneliness inside of me is going to explode through my skin and sometimes im not sure if crying or screaming or laughing through the hysteria will solve anything at all

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

Self-respect is the fruit of discipline the sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.

Faith in faith is faith astray.

What happens in our consciousness and minds and bodies is also happening on earth. The more we pollute the earth, for example, the sicker we are.

Our responding to life's unfairness with sympathy... may be the surest proof of all of God's reality.

I don't have to have any special skills or martial arts in my back pocket.

You might be a redneck if your primary source of income is the pawn shop.