The Universe has a plan to make sure we don't ever stop learning, not only in our minds, but also in our hearts.

I was in Mongolia, pretty extreme situations. We were sick with dysentery, we were sick with bronchitis. I had been bitten by a dog for the first time in my life and my whole hand was black, and there was no way to even think of getting a rabies shot without driving for five days, and then you wouldn't have wanted that needle in your skin anyway. And I had my period. Everything was wrong at one time. Like, I couldn't have been more uncomfortable. And I stayed up - it was too cold to sleep.

I always think, when I'm in motion, writing seems like the most natural thing.

I write well on the road. I have the energy, I have the motivation to write. I'm happy when I'm on the road.

Being in the presence of the "other" seems to show me who I am in a way that is really important to me. I feel radically more comfortable in Laos, say, than I do in Pennsylvania.

I've always said the toughest thing about learning to feel your feelings is that then you have to feel your feelings.

Do you write novels?" I said. "Novels, Lord no," she said. "I can't even stay married.