Whatever happens when we die, it would be really weird if it was what we had expected. Even if you were a lifelong Christian believer, it would be kind of weird if there actually were pearly gates.

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.

Our real duty is always found running in the direction of our worthiest desires.

There are two kinds of writers; the great ones who can give you truths, and the lessor ones, who can only give you themselves.

Life is light and consciousness. Beyond this world and other worlds, beyond time and space and dimension, beyond what we call duality, is God

I don't think I ever take huge risks, though I'm not scared of doing so.

The computer revolution has allowed white-collar criminals to do what the Mob would have loved to do - put a pawnshop and a loan shark in every home!

My mom pushed me to take drama class.

It's always nice to get out there and kind of put Boston College on the map, because we're not one of those schools that is seen nationally by everybody.

Tear-stained flops are necessary. They're the gift you give yourself when you're willing to fly.

Character consists of the moral awareness and strength to know the good, love the good and do the good.

The way to establish a relationship with Spirit and access the power of this creating principle is to continuously contemplate yourself as being surrounded by the conditions you wish to produce.