It made me feel that I had to work very hard, but I've always felt I had to work very hard to get my own approval.

English writing tends to fall into two categories - the big, baggy epic novel or the fairly controlled, tidy novel. For a long time, I was a fan of the big, baggy novel, but there's definitely an advantage to having a little bit more control.

Asking why rappers always talk about their stuff is like asking why Milton is forever listing the attributes of heavenly armies. Because boasting is a formal condition of the epic form. And those taught that they deserve nothing rightly enjoy it when they succeed in terms the culture understands.

Don't live in a way that makes you feel dead.

She loved you in the morning because the day was new.

It's easy to confuse a woman for a philosophy

I don't actually believe in the extension of consciousness after death.