In March of 2001, I revisited the short story, and found that thought it did not work well as a short story, it might work much better as a longer one. The novel [The Kite Runner] came about as an expansion of that original, unpublished short story.

A boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.

Yes, hope is a strange thing. Peace at last. But at what price?

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

I feel like we [americans] are a unique nation in this world, in that we are able to implement great change in our society over a relatively short period of time. What takes centuries in Europe, we accomplish in a generation.

She said, 'I'm so afraid.' And I said, 'why?,' and she said, 'Because I'm so profoundly happy, Dr. Rasul. Happiness like this is frightening.' I asked her why and she said, 'They only let you be this happy if they're preparing to take something from you.

Don't be afraid to tell the truth. It's better to hurt someone by truth than to make them happy by lies.