In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis. Human beings see oppression vividly when they're the victims. Otherwise they victimize blindly and without a thought.

God is a writer and we are both the heroes and the readers.

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.

If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of being a prophet... [at least for your own situation. Blind optimism is just as foolish. The solution is a rigorously balanced, rational outlook.]

When the time comes I will go joyfully. Whatever may be there, it will be real, without complication, without ridicule, without deception.

The characters have their own lives and their own logic, and you have to act accordingly.

There is a plan to this universe. There is a high intelligence, maybe even a purpose, but it's given to us on the installment plan.