Good writing ... involves the agony of turning profoundly difficult thoughts into lucid form, then forcing them into the tight-fitting uniform of language, making them visible and clear.

Without music, life is a journey through a desert.

It's impossible to explain to a Yankee what 'tacky' is. They simply have no word for it up north, but my God, do they ever need one.

I was born and raised on a Carolina sea island and I carried the sunshine of the low-country, inked in dark gold, on my back and shoulders.

I’ve never had anyone’s approval, so I’ve learned to live without it.

The most powerful words in English are, 'Tell me a story.'

Here is all I ask of a book- give me everything. Everything, and don't leave out a single word.

I stood face to face with the moon and the ocean and the future that spread out with all its bewildering immensity before me.

There is no teacher more discriminating or transforming than loss.

The great teachers fill you up with hope and shower you with a thousand reasons to embrace all aspects of life.

My soul found ease and rest in the companionship of books.

At a time when the joy of living is more painful than imagining the beauty of eternal life, we leave our life behind.

It's useless to paint a closed door, in order to change its color. The door needs to be open for both sides to change as same.

The overdressed traveler betrays more interest in being seen than in seeing, while the true traveler knows that the novel world about her serves as the most appropriate accessory.

Jesse reached into a bottom drawer and brought out a bottle of... oh, hey, single-malt scotch. Some SOFs did know how to live.

The net of the sleeper catches fish.

A desire to resist oppression is implanted in the nature of man.

My dream had always just been to do my work well, fall in love and build a life for myself.

I love vinyl, you know? To me it has depth, warmth, it's the best way to really sample.

Regardless of your race, religion or political affiliation, never hesitate to question those in authority.

In my entire time in Washington, I treated everyone with respect, with civility.