Optimism means better than reality; pessimism means worse than reality. I'm a realist.

A ratio of failures is built into the process of writing. The wastebasket has evolved for a reason. Think of it as the altar of the Muse Oblivion, to whom you sacrifice your botched first drafts, the tokens of your human imperfection.

She had no images of this love. She could offer no anecdotes. It was a belief rather than a memory.

If I am good enough and quiet enough, perhaps after all they will let me go; but it’s not easy being quiet and good, it’s like hanging on to the edge of a bridge when you’ve already fallen over; you don’t seem to be moving, just dangling there, and yet it is taking all your strength.

You can't keep a cool head when you're drowning in love. You just trash around a lot and scream, and wear yourself out.

Knowing was a temptation. What you don't know won't tempt you.

Nothing changes instantaneously: in a gradually heating bathtub you'd be boiled to death before you knew it.