Mama always taught her children that words were pretty, but anyone can talk. She said, pay attention to that man or woman who acted, who did, who performed. She taught us to trust in thing we could see, not that we heard.

Laughter is the only strategy that has ever worked at all for me when my world is falling apart.

We set down feasts for each other and treated our love with tongues of fire. Our bodies were fields of wonder to us.

The water was pure and cold and came out of the Apennines tasting like snow melted in the hands of a pretty girl.

I realized early that unless you're willing to kill the innocent, you can't win.

In families, there are no crimes beyond forgiveness.

Teach them the quiet words of kindness, to live beyond themselves. Urge them toward excellence, drive them toward gentleness, pull them deep into yourself, pull them upward toward manhood, but softly like an angel arranging clouds. Let your spirit move through them softly.