It seems to me that there are certain thoughts and vignettes and attitudes that I have always had the desire to represent.

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.

She imagined she could taste the storm in him, the battering winds of desperation and frustration that met her own, blow for blow.

Gospel change is the Spirit of God using the story of God to make the beauty of God come alive in our hearts

There can be little liking where there is no likeness.

Unplanned pregnancy is an equal-opportunity affliction.

It's a fine thing to rise above pride, but you must have pride in order to do so.

[Rumors are a] vehicle for anxieties and aspirations that may not be openly expressed.

Success has to do with deliberate practice. Practice must be focused, determined, and in an environment where there's feedback.

The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and we can fix that."

I firmly believe lyrics have to breathe and give the audience's ear a chance to understand what's going on. Particularly in the theater, where you have costume, story, acting, orchestra.

Islam has no problem with women, but Muslims do clearly appear to have serious problems with them