In the final exam in the Chaucer course we were asked why he used certain verbal devices, certain adjectives, why he had certain characters behave in certain ways. And I wrote, 'I don't think Chaucer had any idea why he did any of these things. That isn't the way people write.' I believe this as strongly now as I did then. Most of what is best in writing isn't done deliberately.

It is the ability to choose which makes us human.

Love. That was what she had that IT did not have.

Art should communicate with as many people as possible.

A good laugh heals a lot of hurts.

No long-term marriage is made easily, and there have been times when I've been so angry or so hurt that I thought my love would never recover.

To share poetry is one of the most intimate acts of friendship possible.