He wished he had inhabited more of his life, used it better, filled it fuller.

I love to think about chance - about how one little overheard word, one pebble in a shoe, can change the universe.

I've always thought a hotel ought to offer optional small animals. I mean a cat to sleep on your bed at night, or a dog of some kind to act pleased when you come in. You ever notice how a hotel room feels so lifeless?

In real life I avoid all parties altogether, but on paper I can mingle with the best of them

Farmers are patient men. They got to be. Got to see those seeds come up week by week, fraction by fraction, and sweat it out for some days not knowing yet is it weeds or vegetables.

I read so I can live more than one life in more than one place.

She was good at talking with young people. She seemed to view them as interesting foreigners.