She say guilt is a useless emotion." "Oh, please," says Nancy. "Guilt is what separates humans from animals.

the separation of church and state grew out of a desire, not so much to protect government from religion, but to protect religion from government.

The life of a good dog is like the life of a good person, only shorter and more compressed.

We are writers. We danced with words, as children, in what became familiar patterns. The words became our friends and our companions, and without even saying it aloud, a thought danced with them: I can do this. This is who I am.

Women writers of all people should know better than to pigeonhole women, put them in little groups, the smart one, the sweet one.

I haven't seen so much tippy-toeing around since the last time I went to the ballet. When members of the arts community were askedthis week about one of their biggest benefactors, Philip Morris, and its requests that they lobby the New York City Council on the company's behalf, the pas de deux of self- justification was so painstakingly choreographed that it constituted a performance all by itself.

You cannot be really first-rate at your work if your work is all you are.