This was not of the nature of a Christlike lesson for Owen Meany to learn, as he lay in the manger, that someone you hate can give you a hard-on.

If I have any advantage, maybe, as a writer, it is that I don't think I'm very interesting. I mean, beginning a novel with the last sentence is a pretty plodding way to spend your life.

Writing a novel is actually searching for victims. As I write I keep looking for casualties. The stories uncover the casualties.

Rituals are comforting; rituals combat loneliness.

I’m not afraid, but I’m very nervous.

I have pretty thick skin, and I think if you're going to be in this business, if you're going to be an actor or a writer, you better have a thick skin.

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