People who believe that they are going to be excommunicated and shamed, or whatever other dark things may happen to them, are much less likely to enter open, loving relationships. And they are also much less likely to have the self-esteem that is required to be monogamous and loving. And in consequence, they are much less likely to create families.

Depressed people cannot lead a revolution because depressed people can barely manage to get out of bed and put on their shoes and socks.

The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep out of me.

Our needs are our greatest asset. It turns out I've learned to give all the things that I need.

I felt like all of the work was training for just one central idea: Accept your child for who he is. I'm not saying that I've done a brilliant job with that. But I've done my best.

All parenting turns on a crucial question: to what extent parents should accept their children for who they are, and to what extent they should help them become their best selves.

I'm sure that if we had enough sophistication, someone could look at what my changes in brain structure were as I came to feel more deeply in love.