It is much easier to be flexible about where a story begins than it ever was for me to change my mind about where and how a story ended.

Because abortions are illegal, women who need and want them have no choice in the matter, and you-because you know how to perform them-have no choice, either

Ambition robs you of your childhood. The moment you want to become an adult—in any way—something in your childhood dies.

People are either attracted to the unseemly or disapproving of it, or both; yet we try to sound superior to the unseemly by pretending to be amused by it or indifferent to it.

There is no straightforward negotiation with a four year old.

But I felt certain that if the world would stop indulging wars and famines and other perils, it would be possible for human beings to embarrass each other to death. Our self-destruction might take a little longer that way, but I believe it would be no less complete.

I grew up in a family where, through my teenage years, I was expected to go to church on Sunday. It wasn't terribly painful.