What was even more germane was my study of the history of religion. It was one of the few things in school I was fascinated by.

He also knew that rivals are best unmanned by being ignored.

This is a writer’s lesson: To learn that the sounds that we imagine can be the clearest, loudest sounds of all.

...every study of the gods, of everyone's gods, is a revelation of vengeance towards the innocent.

I believe in rules of behavior, and I'm quite interested in stories about the consequences of breaking those rules.

You're nice,' Cushie told him, squeezing his hand. 'And you're my oldest friend.' But they both must have known that you can know someone all your life and never quite be friends.

You know, people think you have to be dumb to skip rope for 45 minutes. No, you have to be able to imagine something else. While you're skipping rope, you have to be able to see something else.