If I were a doctor nobody would be inviting me to talk to reservations. I'd be a different person. Writers can influence more people.

When I had no money, and a great book came out, I couldn't get it. I had to wait. I love the idea that I have hardcover books here and at home that I haven't read yet. That's how I view that I'm rich. I have hardcover books I may never read.

Environmentalism is a luxury. Just like being a vegetarian is a luxury. When you have to worry about eating - you're not going to be worried about where the food's coming from, or who made your shoes. Poverty, whether planned or not planned, is a way of making environmentalism moot.

That's one more thing people don't know about Indians: We love to talk dirty.

I learned how to stop crying. I learned how to hide inside of myself. I learned how to be somebody else. I learned how to be cold and numb.

When it comes to death, we know that laughter and tears are pretty much the same thing.

I'm quite aware of my differences. I wouldn't classify them as weird