I taught writing classes at the University of Pennsylvania for a number of years and I realized that all you can do is encourage people and give them assignments and hope they will write them.

In my early twenties, that's when I really began to write. Before that, I was too busy working, keeping myself going.

The minute you become conscious that you are doing good, that's the minute you have to stop because from then on it's wrong.

When you read to a child, when you put a book in a child's hands, you are bringing that child news of the infinitely varied nature of life. You are an awakener.

When there's a terrible murder people who are interviewed say, 'This has always been a quiet neighborhood.' That is so dumb and uninformed! The earth is not a quiet neighborhood. There isn't anyplace that's a quiet neighborhood. People are asking themselves how to stay neat in the cyclone.

Teachers inspire the smallest hearts to grow big enough to change the world.

When I begin a story at my desk, the window to my back, the path is not there. As I start to walk, I make the path.