Whenever there was a crisis, I found a man to help me take the edge off the feelings of helplessness and pain.

Personal experience is the lightning of the soul; it transforms the heart in ways that leave the brain behind.

Love is a great wrecker of peace of mind.

I believe that the memoir is the novel of the 21st century; it’s an amazing form that we haven’t even begun to tap…we’re just getting started figuring out what the rules are.

Our [western] culture embraces sex addiction. If I drink too much or rack up credit-card debt or lose the rent in Vegas, that's bad. But if I have many lovers, that's good.

I think 12-step programs really work, rehab really works, certain types of therapies and talking to other addicts really work. There are a lot of things that work - that isn't the problem. The problem is getting the addicts to say they're addicts. The problem is admitting it.

Death is terrifying because it is so ordinary. It happens all the time.