I have a theory about marriage, Monsieur Boustouler. And it’s that nearly always you will know within two weeks if it’s going to work. It’s astonishing how many people remain shackled for years, decades even, in a protracted and mutual state of self-delusion and false hope when in fact they had their answer in those first two weeks.

Regret... when it comes to you, I have oceans of it.

I opened my mouth, almost said something. Almost. The rest of my life might have turned out differently if I had. But I didn’t.

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

The country [Afghanistan] faces enormous problems. There is a violent insurgency hampering the rule of law and developmental efforts.

J’aurais dû être plus gentille—I should have been more kind. That is something a person will never regret. You will never say to yourself when you are old, Ah, I wish I was not good to that person. You will never think that.

If culture was a house, then language was the key to the front door, [and] to all rooms inside.