Behind every closed door might wait a thief of minds and a collector of souls.

She says what holds their marriage together is that she feels too damn sorry for him to ask for a divorce.

Pain is a gift. Humanity, without pain, would know neither fear nor pity. Without fear, there could be no humility, and every man would be a monster. The recognition of pain and fear in others give rise in us to pity, and in our pity is our humanity, our redemption.

The world is a very complex and interesting place and that is what I really want my fiction to say: wake up to how amazing the world is.

The more you expect from life, the more your expectations will be fulfilled. By laughing, you do not use up your laughter, but increase your store of it. The more you love, the more you will be loved. The more you give, the more you will receive. Life proves that truth every hour, every day. And life continues to surprise.

Vladimir Nabokov said the two great evils of the 20th century were Marx and Freud. He was absolutely correct.

As individuals, as families, as neighbors, as members of one community, people of all races and political views are usually decent, kind, compassionate. But in large corporations or governments, when great power accumulates in their hands, some become monsters even with good intentions.