Working with language is a means by which we can identify the bullshit within ourselves (and others).

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.

Anger may seem to be a source of energy, but it’s blind.

At times, it felt so odd being with a man in such an intimate way who was not my husband.

You may have something wise to say, but HOW YOU SAY IT may make it unwise! RECREATE it, else you'll REGRET it!

In America, the system itself of democracy is being threatened.

I'm not in any way selling out by having a record that's good enough for radio.

I think when there's so much information to be eaten up, and so many ways to do it, people cling to groups. I think we, as monkeys, want to live in smaller groups.

Getting angry can sometimes be like leaping into a wonderfully responsive sports car, gunning the motor, taking off at high speed and then discovering the brakes are out of order.

I'm not a crook. I've earned everything I've got.

I was a scam artist in high school for a while.

I'm too busy playing to worry about the movement or the fingerboard.