Sublime places repeat in grand terms a lesson that ordinary life typically teaches viciously: that the universe is mightier than we are, that we are frail and temporary and have no alternative but to accept limitations on our will; that we must bow to necessities greater than ourselves.

Writing a book has about it some of the anxiety of telling a joke and having to wait several years to know whether or not it was funny.

The more familiar two people become, the more the language they speak together departs from that of the ordinary, dictionary-defined discourse. Familiarity creates a new language, an in-house language of intimacy that carries reference to the story the two lovers are weaving together and that cannot be readily understood by others.

Forgiveness requires a sense that bad behaviour is a sign of suffering rather than malice.

The problem is if you really believe in a society where those who merit to get to the top, get to the top, you’ll also, by implication … believe in a society where those who deserve to get to the bottom also get to the bottom and stay there.

We keep a special place in our hearts for people who refuse to be impressed by us.

The good parent: someone who doesn't mind, for a time, being hated by their children.