I think people have come to expect that in artistic representation; that every work of art should be a work of extravagant hope.

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.

[God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.

The long day wanes; the slow moon climbs the deep.

The People's Liberation Army should play the role of shock troops, overcoming fatigue and sharpening vigilance to make new contributions.

We are the victims of the world's most comprehensive robbery. Life demands a balance. It's all right if we do a little robbing now.

Do you believe in god? I have no need for that hypothesis, he may be around though.

I'm not against vodka - they just asked us. They put out some story about us entertaining international celebrities with vodka, which of course wasn't true.

What kind of crazy nut would spend two or three hours a day just running?

And for the team, I always tried to do the right thing.

My mother's love was really not based on attachment. Her love was genuine love. To make me happy, not how I will make her happy.

In Men in Black, it was a very small character, no pun intended.