Most anger stems from feelings of weakness, sadness and fear: hard to remember when one is at the receiving end of its defiant roar.

Unnatural to expect that learning to be happy should be any easier than, say, learning to play the violin or require any less practice.

I assemble my ideas in pieces on a computer file, then gradually find a place for them on a piece of scaffolding I erect.

When you look at the Moon, you think, ‘I’m really small. What are my problems?’ It sets things into perspective. We should all look at the Moon a bit more often.

The fear of saying something stupid (which stupid people never have) has censored far more good ideas than bad ones.

Many moments in religion seem attractive to me even though I can't believe in any of it.

Literature deserves its prestige for one reason above all others - because it's a tool to help us live and die with a little bit more wisdom, goodness, and sanity.