Of course it hurt that we could never love each other in a physical way. We would have been far more happy if we had. But that was like the tides, the change of seasons--something immutable, an immovable destiny we could never alter. No matter how cleverly we might shelter it, our delicate friendship wasn't going to last forever. We were bound to reach a dead end. That was painfully clear.

Despite your best efforts, people are going to be hurt when it's time for them to be hurt.

I have read all my novels that were translated into English. Reading my novels is enjoyable because I forget almost all the content in them.

The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can't be learned at school.

Some things, you know, if you say them, it makes them not true?

The library was like a second home. Or maybe more like a real home, more than the place I lived in. By going every day I got to know all the lady librarians who worked there. They knew my name and always said hi. I was painfully shy, though, and could barely reply.

It's true though: time moves in its own special way in the middle of the night," the bartender says, loudly striking a book match and lighting a cigarette. "You can't fight it.