Maybe all the secrets of life were written on the surface of leaves, waiting to be translated. If I touched them long enough, I might be given some information no one else had.

Since that night I have come to understand that sometimes the best families of all are those we create ourselves, the people we choose to be with.

Writing is a supernatural thing.

Sometimes just being still is the best thing you can do for yourself.

In New York, the buildings are like mountains in some ways, but they are only alive because of the people living in them. Real mountains are alive all over.

Whole scenes of your life slip away forever if you don't put them down in ink.

I've never understood why people run to get out of the rain in the summertime... People will drive miles and miles to go jump in a cool swimming hole, but when it rains, they scatter.

That's what it means to be an American. To be free to love who and what you want, and to keep a lot in your heart at once.

I wondered if we were put on this earth only to destroy every beautiful thing, to make chaos. Or were we meant to overcome this? Did bad things happen so that goodness could show through in people?

I appricated that Nell was talking to me like a grown-up, but I had no idea what she meant. Still, I could see that the words flowed together like water over a riverbed.

It seems like there are so many homesick people in the world. It seems like so many of us live far away from where we were born.

Marriage is a mutual faithful friendship

Forget decorated generals, tell me about Private Ryan.

If I can, I love staying in pajamas all day and watching movies and eating good food.

Growing up, my family was an enemy of the state. I have experienced more disappointment than joy, much more sad stories or desperate conditions.

People who are cognitively busy are also more likely to make selfish choices, use sexist language, and make superficial judgments in social situations.

It's more about capturing an idea than about capturing a moment.

No one should question the faith of others, for no human being can judge the ways of God.

What is strength without a double share of wisdom?

We're in one of the biggest tech bubbles we've ever had.