Recollection builds up our personality. Our individuality is based on all the little pieces we assembled in the past. ("The past was her best friend")

Circumstances makes a thing poison or nectar. There is nothing absolute good or bad.

No teacher has the right to cure a child of making noises on a drum. The only curing that should be practiced is the curing of unhappiness.

Write like you speak with the 'rhythms of human speech,' as William Zinsser said, and in as few words as possible. Use action verbs to carry water.

Wine had to be grapes first. Diamonds had to be rocks first. Butterflies had to be caterpillars first. Rainbows had to be storms first.

I don't care how much you eat, Ender, self-cannibalism won't get you out of this school.

It's almost hard to imagine anything more undemocratic than the view that political officials should not debate American wars in public, but only express concerns 'privately with the administration.'...

Travelling shouldn't be just a tour, it should be a tale.

I have learned, that the person I have to ask for forgiveness from the most is: myself. You must love yourself. You have to forgive yourself, everyday, whenever you remember a shortcoming, a flaw, you...

Whenever I'm with my mother, I feel as though I have to spend the whole time avoiding land mines.

They had discovered one could grow as hungry for light as for food.

Then turn your eyes back on me,and tell me that Cathy and I are still children to be treated with condescension, and are incapable of understanding adult subjects. We haven'tremained idle, twiddling o...

It's okay, Ig. said Fang. Just give it your best shot. Sometimes the Fangster is incredibly supportive, just not with me.

I wanted the monster back and that was plainly wrong.

He did not care what the end would be, and in his lucid moments overvalued his indifference. The danger, when not seen, has the imperfect vagueness of human thought. The fear grows shadowy; and Imagin...

Everyone, this is the new girl. Elder knows her. New girl, this is everyone. A few people look up politely; some actually smile. Most, however, look wary at best, disgusted at worse. The nurse closest...

We stand the risk of stagnation, because you refused to take risks. So life demands risks.

Bring on the controversy. I write real life. It's harsh and sometimes gritty, but it's real. Why should we tip toe around that?

Criticism can never instruct or benefit you. Its chief effect is that of a telegram with dubious news. Praise leaves no glow behind, for it is a writer's habit to remember nothing good of himself. I h...

An advanced human rights friendly Constitution is fine and well - but what good is it if it is not put into practice? The government says it cherishes the principles in the SA Constitution, and yet ac...