Kids never get pissed at their parents. Unheard of.

We've educated children to think spontaneity is inappropriate.

There's something in this country that is so opposed to understanding the complexity of children.

My big concern is me and what do I do now until the time of my death. That is valid. That is useful. That is beautiful. That is creative.

Art has always been my salvation.

I think there is something barbaric in children, and it's missing in lots of books for them because we don't like to think of it. We want them to be happy [but] childhood is a very tough time.

If life is so critical, if Anne Frank could die, if my friend could die, children were as vulnerable as adults, and that gave me a secret purpose to my work, to make them live. Because I wanted to live. I wanted to grow up.