I reluctantly concluded that there was no way for me to help bring into being the Muslim culture I'd dreamed of, the progressive, irreverent, skeptical, argumentative, playful and unafraid culture which is what I've always understood as freedom.... Actually Existing Islam ... which makes literalism a weapon and redescription a crime, will never let the likes of me in.

Freedom to reject is the only freedom.

There is no such thing as perfect security, only varying levels of insecurity.

Writers and politicians are natural rivals. Both groups try to make the world in their own images; they fight for the same territory.

Writers have an opinion about the world and offer arguments about the world. They should offer contemplation.

Life is lived forward but is judged in reverse.

We crave permission openly to become our secret selves.