If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country’s oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. That's not gallons, but barrels. Small changes in buying habits can make big differences. Becoming a less energy-dependent nation may just need to start with a good breakfast.

If you're standing in the manure pile, it's somebody's job to mention the stink.

Do you think its possible to live without wanting to put your name on your paintings? To belong to a group so securely you don't need to rise above it?

I think that when people read fiction, they're really reading for wisdom. I am. That's what most of us really love. If we read a novel that rocks our world, it's because there's something in it that we didn't know already. Not just information but really wisdom - sort of what to do with our information. And wisdom comes from experience.

It occurs to her that there is one thing about people you can never understand well enough: how entirely inside themselves they are.

The last generation's worst fears became the next one's B-grade entertainment.

Like kids who only ever get socks for Christmas, but still believe with all their hearts in Santa.