All natural disasters are comforting because they reaffirm our impotence, in which, otherwise, we might stop believing. At times it is strangely sedative to know the extent of your own powerlessness.

I do believe that in every age there are people whose consciousness transcends their own time and that these people, whether fictional or historical, are those with whom we most closely identify and those about whom we most enjoy reading.

In a world where women work three times as hard for half as much, our achievement has been denigrated, both marriage and divorce have turned against us, our motherhood has been used as an obstacle to our success, our passion as a trap, our empathy for others as an excuse to underpay us.

When everyone thinks they know you, it's hard not to be guarded.

My generation had Doris Day as a role model, then Gloria Steinem--then Princess Diana. We are the most confused generation.

Most sex is not really intimate.

You see a lot of smart guys with dumb women, but you hardly ever see a smart woman with a dumb guy.