And as he spoke, I was thinking, 'the kind of stories that people turn life into, the kind of lives people turn stories into.

The road to hell is paved with works-in-progress.

I cannot and do not live in the world of discretion, not as a writer, anyway. I would prefer to, I assure you - it would make life easier. But discretion is, unfortunately, not for novelists.

He had learned the worst lesson that life can teach - that it makes no sense.

You can no more make someone tell the truth than you can force someone to love you.

Old age isn't a battle; old age is a massacre.

The horror of being caged has lost its thrill.

Everybody else is working to change, persuade, tempt and control them. The best readers come to fiction to be free of all that noise.

I have a slogan I use when I get anxious writing, which happens quite a bit: ‘the ordeal is part of the commitment.’ It’s one of my mantras. It makes a lot of things doable.

When the whole world doesn't believe in God, it'll be a great place.

Because that is when you love somebody - when you see them being game in the face of the worst. Not courageous. Not heroic. Just game.

There was a roaring in my ears and I lost track of what they were saying. I believe it was the physical manifestation of unbearable grief.

Leaves leave this world in beautiful fall colors and songs.

He who mocked and laughed at correction should blame nobody for his shame and doom.

A Muslim just follows Allah. Sunni-Shiah? That's farga, the groups—Allah discourages this in the Quran, you know, never ever form the groups.

Real faith never disappoints because it is in God, grounded on His character, promises, covenant and oath.

I do not believe the accusations against my husband, not for one second.

Purity is essential for just your own peace of mind; otherwise, you'll go through this world like a mad person, howling and screaming and cursing, never satisfied, never happy.

Take life on life's terms - one day at a time. And have fun while you're doing it.

I'm manipulating the audience. I'm making sure people sympathize.

The person that turns over the most rocks wins the game. And that's always been my philosophy.