One can find in the Yiddish tongue and in the Yiddish spirit expressions of pious joy, lust for life, longing for the Messiah, patience and deep appreciation of human individuality.

They still believe in God, the family, angels, witches, goblins, logic, clarity, punctuation, and other obsolete stuff.

I was brought up to believe in free will. Although I came to doubt all revelation, I can never accept the idea that the Universe is a physical or chemical accident, a result of blind evolution. Even though I learned to recognize the lies, the clichés and the idolatries of the human mind, I still cling to some truths which I think all of us might accept some day.

A good writer is basically a story teller, not a scholar or a redeemer of mankind.

The New England conscience doesn't keep you from doing what you shouldn't - it just keeps you from enjoying it.

I am thankful, of course, for the prize and thankful to God for each story, each idea, each word, each day.

The more you see what other people do, the more you learn about yourself.