She had been skeptical about change since Obama’s first presidential campaign, when it seemed everyone was eager to change. She knew then, and has know all along, that most people hate to change though they’re...

Laughter erupted from her belly and shot out her mouth like pigeons through an open cage door, schoolchildren bursting into summer vacation, water from a tapped hydrant.

Change for its own sake doesn’t make life more interesting; it only makes it different.

For most of human history people owned other people. Then, only a hundred and fifty years ago, our ancestors figured out that was a bad idea. One day we’ll figure out, or our descendants will...

Am I an old man who changed into a butterfly, or a butterfly who thinks he was once an old man?

Could be an amazing product, sell like condoms at a high school prom, donuts at a police convention, sunscreen on a Caribbean crush ship.

The physical world exists, but that’s only the paint and canvas; that’s only the instrument we use to make music; that’s only the stage where the play is performed.

Like a fire alarm going off in your ear, sulfur up your nose, mouth full of sour milk, reality is what it is – you deal with it.

Words are harsh mistresses, to be sure. Like petulant divas, they want only those parts that play to their talents and mask their blemishes, and only when complete companies of players who love their parts...

Respect the world and it takes care of you; disrespect her and she kicks your ass.

Only locks in life are what you think you know, but don’t. Accept your ignorance and try something new.

The world of literature is a sacred mirror that shows not the reality around us but the dreams and fears that reality stimulates: It’s not where we live, but life itself.

You’re the only you you get in this life! Show a little appreciation!

Her eyes beamed over the top of the cup like Peterbilt high beams coming over a hillcrest, full moon rising over a mountain lake with its reflected partner, 747 landing lights coming down onto a...