No story is a straight line. The geometry of a human life is too imperfect and complex, too distorted by the laughter of time and the bewildering intricacies of fate to admit the straight line into its system of laws.

Some things don’t mix. Some things don’t mix at all, but sometimes in life you have to take the risk.

There's no word in the language I revere more than 'teacher.' My heart sings when a kid refers to me as his teacher, and it always has. I've honored myself and the entire family of man by becoming a teacher.

But even her demons she invested with inordinate beauty, consecrated them with the dignity of her attention.

I was born to be a point guard, but not a very good one.

Music could ache and hurt, that beautiful music was a place a suffering man could hide.

In families, there are no crimes beyond forgiveness.