It takes writing a billion bad words before you get to the good ones.

We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give back to the universe. If we make landfall on another star system, we become immortal.

I felt a bit bookish, cut off from life.

I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true - hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something, then don't do it.

We are the miracle of force and matter making itself over into imagination and will.

Do what you love and love what you do. Don’t do anything for money. Everything should be for love.

He felt his smile slide away, melt, fold over and down on itself like a tallow skin, like the stuff of a fantastic candle burning too long and now collapsing and now blown out.