What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded ….

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness..

Err in the direction of kindness..

Don't be afraid to be confused. Try to remain permanently confused. Anything is possible. Stay open, forever, so open it hurts, and then open up some….

Kindness, it turns out, is hard - it starts out all rainbows and puppy dogs, and expands to include . . . well, EVERYTHING..

If you bring forth what is within you, it will save you. If you do not bring it forth, it will destroy you..

In the moment of reading, the writer comes up to the surface and the reader comes up to the surface and they kiss, like two fish. That actually does ….

The scariest thought in the world is that someday I'll wake up and realize I've been sleepwalking through my life: underappreciating the people I lov….

Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial..

I love story-writing because I can (more or less, on occasion) actually DO it. That's really the truth. I like the idea that a story is sort of a sit….

I think the trick of being a writer is to basically put your cards out there all the time and be willing to be as in the dark about what happens next….

When you read a short story, you come out a little more aware and a little more in love with the world around you. What I want is to have the reader ….

Developing our sympathetic compassion is not only possible but the only reason for us to be here on earth..

Life is short, very short, and what are we doing here if not trying to become more generous and loving?.

A work of art is something produced by a person, but is not that person — it is of her, but is not her. It’s a reach, really — the artist is trying t….

That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality - your soul, if you will - is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Sha….

When we talk about adversity, this is the moment when character really gets tested. When things aren't going the way you want and you can't see anywa….

We try, we fail, we posture, we aspire, we pontificate - and then we age, shrink, die, and vanish..

Your first responsibility is to yourself and to your own goodness of heart..

I don't like that new age posture where you kind of tilt your head. I don't like that posture right now. I want something a little more confident and….

The best thing we can bring to any fight is a calm and compassionate mind..