Faith is the ability to honor stillness at some moments, and at others to ride the passion and exuberance.

Except for a God who sits down after the universe begins, all other gods conflict with the assumptions of science.

In a world in which time is a circle, every handshake, every kiss, every birth, every word, will be repeated precisely.

What sense is there in continuing when one has seen the future?

I think e-mail is representative of our fast food mentality in the United States, where everything has gotten faster and faster, and we're required to respond to inputs more quickly with less time for thought and reflection. I believe that we need to slow down.

I love the fact publishers are still publishing unprofitable material. It's a challenge to the powers that be. It's saying there is a real literature in this country and we will keep publishing it.

In this world, there are two times. There is mechanical time and there is body time. The first is as rigid and metallic as a massive pendulum of iron that swings back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. The second squirms and wriggles like a bluefish in a bay. The first is unyielding, predetermined. The second makes up its mind as it goes along.