People cry at weddings for the same reason they cry at happy endings: because they so desperately want to believe in something they know is not credible.

My good intentions are completely lethal.

Knowledge is power only as long as you keep your mouth shut.

Canadians are fond of a good disaster, especially if it has ice, water, or snow in it. You thought the national flag was about a leaf, didn't you? Look harder. It's where someone got axed in the snow.

As an artist your first loyalty is to your art. Unless this is the case, you're going to be a second-rate artist.

Tell what is yours to tell. Let others tell what is theirs.

Children were vehicles for passing things along. These things could be kingdoms, rich wedding gifts, stories, grudges, blood feuds. Through children, alliances were forged; through children, wrongs were avenged. To have a child was to set loose a force in the world.