I remember reading 'The Grapes of Wrath' in high school in 1983. My family had immigrated to the U.S. three years before, and I had spent the better part of the first two years learning English. John Steinbeck's book was the first book I read in English where I had an 'Aha!' moment, namely in the famed turtle chapter.

It's wrong to hurt even bad people. Because they don't know any better, and because bad people sometimes become good.

Writing fiction is the act of weaving a series of lies to arrive at a greater truth.

True redemption is...when guilt leads to good.

At the time we are focusing our efforts primarily on building shelters for refugees. Homelessness in Afghanistan is a huge problem.

There [in Afghanistan ] is a tremendous need for selter. So I am focusing most of the efforts of the foundation to building shelters for refugees in northern Afghanistan and we have already begun doing so.

I see America has infused you with the optimism that has made her so great