The world is changing. It is no longer a world just for boys and men

It is healthier, in any case, to write for the adults one's children will become than for the children one's 'mature' critics often are.

I'm not being disrespectful of the medium; it's just not as important as the work that I actually do [books].

I'm pore, I'm black, I may be ugly and can't cook, a voice say to everything listening. But I'm here.

Laughter isn't even the other side of tears. It is tears turned inside out. Truly the suffering is great, here on earth. We blunder along, shredded by our mistakes, bludgeoned by our faults. Not having a clue where the dark path leads us. But on the whole, we stumble along bravely, don't you think?

I believe God is everything, say Shug. Everything that is or ever was or ever will be. And when you can feel that, and be happy to feel that, you've found It.

My parents taught me service - not by saying, but by doing. That was my culture, the culture of my family.