One of the things that got me on this topic for this book was that when I was researching the column I wrote in 2009 saying that I was stepping down from my column at "Newsweek" because I wanted to make room for newer, fresh voices out there, I discovered that in the year I was born, 1952, the average life expectancy of an American was 68. I was shocked by that figure and every time I mention it I hear a gasp from somebody in the crowd. Now, of course, we're more or less at 80, so that means that we've gotten 12 additional years.
Anna QuindlenI conveniently forgot to remember that people only have two hands, or, as another parent once said of having a third child, it's time for a zone defense instead of man-to-man.
Anna QuindlenThe clearest explanation for the failure of any marriage is that the two people are incompatible; that is, that one is male and the other female.
Anna QuindlenAll of the qualities that you need to be a good opinion columnist tend to be qualities that aren't valued in women.
Anna Quindlen