My own background is fairly liberal and so this notion of 'protecting women from outside intrusion' is not in my nature, nor in my upbringing.

Perhaps this is just punishment for those who have been heartless, to understand only when nothing can be undone.

Marriage can wait, education cannot.

the past held only this wisdom: that love was a damaging mistake, and its accomplice, hope, a treacherous illusion

I have very fond memories of my childhood in Afghanistan, largely because my memories, unlike those of the current generation of Afghans, are untainted by the spectre of war, landmines, and famine.

People…shouldn’t be allowed to have new children if they’d already given away all their love to their old ones. It wasn’t fair.

A man's heart is a wretched, wretched thing. It isn't like a mother's womb. It won't bleed. It won't stretch to make room for you.