The more we know, the more pain we have. But because we are human beings, this must be. Otherwise we become objects rather than subjects.

What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.

There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.

Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.

For the dead and the living, we must bear witness. Not only are we responsible for the memories of the dead, we are responsible for what we do with those memories

The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference. Indifference creates evil. Hatred is evil itself. Indifference is what allows evil to be strong, what gives it power.

Even in darkness it is possible to create light.

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.

To remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.

All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them. No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior.

Because I remember, I despair. Because I remember, I have the duty to reject despair.

Let the wet earth embrace you firmly, soundly. She needs to be revived, she needs to beat like a heart full of adrenaline inside a chest.

Calling connects with passion.

Longevity is having a chronic disease and taking care of it.

At home in Ireland, there's a habit of avoidance, an ironical attitude towards the authority figure.

The library is my cathedral.

I think that it's a universal urge to have our pain not be felt alone and to have our joys not be felt alone.

China is completely lacking in self-awareness and as someone who has stepped outside that society, I have a responsibility to write about it as I see it.

A writer's work may be a coded autobiography, but only a very close friend could decipher it.

Friendship is like standing on wet cement. The longer you stay, the harder it's to leave, and you can never go without leaving your footprints behind.

When you get to sing with someone you care about, it's magical.