Kindness, it turns out, is hard - it starts out all rainbows and puppy dogs, and expands to include . . . well, EVERYTHING.

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?

I'm always aware of writing around things I can't do, and I've come to think that that's actually what 'style' is - an avoidance of your deficiencies.

It was a lesson the world had already taught me and was teaching me still. You don't know what's possible until you actually see it.

Sometimes the truth hurts because it uncovers the lies people are living

If some musicians put half as much effort in to the business side as they do their outer look and appearances, they could be twice as far.

The path of nonviolence is the path of respect. It is respect towards every being. It is the path of awakening the consciousness of every being.

For so long I wanted to win the gold medal.Then I won. I had to figure out what was the new motivation to take myself to that place again.

Forget about the profession of being a photographer. First be a photographer and maybe the profession will come after.

I never met a librarian worth his or her salt who didn't perceive my passion for books.

In general, there are patients with insomnia who - many patients with insomnia will actually over report the lack of sleep that they are getting.

If thou continuous to take delight in idle argumentation thou mayest be qualified to combat with the sophists, but will never know how to live with men.

I don't think about the past, I only think about the present because what I do today sets me up for the future.