The contours of the coming disaster expanded to include the deaths of all present.

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.

Live joyfully this life. Once gone, who knows if we ever get it back. Atheists think we do not. Mystics say you will. Either way, chill.

Although most executives pay lip service to the idea of hiring for cultural fit, few have the courage or discipline to make it the primary criteria for bringing someone into the company.

It's good to keep in mind that prominence is always a mix of hard work, eloquence in your practice, good timing and fortuitous social relations. Everything can't be personalized.

So I'm definitely in favour of stimulating the dynamic wealth creation sectors of the economy.

I think it was right to remove Saddam Hussein. I think it was the right decision then and I still think it was right now.

A good design is not a democratic consensus.

And I think in theater, people don't really focus on the media unless there's a huge superstar doing a play or something.

Know this, if someone has cheated on you who truly loves you, they have hurt themselves as much as they have hurt you.

Women's Lib? Poor little things. They always look so unhappy. Have you noticed how bitter their faces are?

The problem is I'm older now, I'm 40 years old, and this stuff doesn't change the world. It really doesn't.