Look at history. It's not the account of a species at peace.

I do think that there is such a thing as human nature, and that the things that we have in common are perhaps greater than the things that divide us.

In the real world, immeasurable hurt is caused by terrorists based in Pakistan who attack countries like India.

The world is about the way in which our dreams intersect with our real life. Endlessly, the world of the imagination changes the world.

I used to write a monthly column for the 'New York Times' syndicate. But I stopped because I found it really hard to have one extreme opinion a month. I don't know how these columnists have two or three ideas a week; I was having difficulty having 12 things to say a year.

For me, what I've always seen in writers and artists is the courage it takes to make an original work of art. I think the real risks in literature are linguistic and intellectual, and I hope we can highlight those, as well as political courage.

I am clearly vulnerable to these more passionate and volatile unstable relationships. I am trying to not be so vulnerable.