My mother had a look on her face that I'll never forget. It was one of complete despair and horror, for losing Bing, for being so foolish as to think she could use faith to change fate.

You can have pride in what you do each day, but not arrogance in what you were born with.

You can't have intentions without consequences. The question is, who pays for the consequences? Saving fish from drowning. Same thing. Who’s saved? Who’s not?

When you already believe something, how can you suddenly stop? When you are a loyal friend, how can you no longer be one?

No one in my family was a reader of literary fiction. So, I didn't have encouragement, but I didn't have discouragement, because I don't think anybody knew what that meant.

Then you must teach my daughter this same lesson. How to lose your innocence but not your hope. How to laugh forever.

All objects exist in a moment of time.