The forest is the first cathedral. I felt that from the time I was a child. I credit my mother with that. I used to think it came from her Native-American side. Whichever it was, she instinctively connected with nature, and taught me that.

It must become a right of every person to die of old age. And if we secure this right for ourselves, we can, coincidentally, assure it for the planet.

Writing saved me from the sin and inconvenience of violence.

People will say to you, "Oh, you are fearless." That is so not true. We should stop saying that about people. It's a slander, really.

I write not only what I want to read...I write all the things I should have been able to read.

I think the foundation of everything in my life is wonder.

Nobody is as powerful as we make them out to be.