"The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration."

"To find joy in work is to discover the fountain of youth."

"Self-expression must pass into communication for its fulfillment."

"Our society must make it right and possible for old people not to fear the young or be deserted by them, for the test of a civilization is the way that it cares for its helpless members."

"It is a humble truth that beauty in art is the harmony of spirit, intellect, and craft — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"In every thriller written about Washington, particularly after 9/11, there are good guys and there are bad guys, and there's no gray area at all."

"It is a unyielding truth that a quiet mind perceives the subtle truths that noisy ambitions constantly drown out."

"It's funny. People often compare me to other humor essayists. They're usually quite nice comparisons I will accept those gladly. But I am always sort of appalled at the idea of being lumped with other, more chick-y female writers. And the truth is probably that neither comparison is accurate."