“I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can’t teach vision or talent. But you can help with comfort.”

Lonely was much better than alone.

Anything dead coming back to life hurts.

I type in one place, but I write all over the house.

There is an incredible amount of magic and feistiness in black men that nobody has been able to wipe out. But everybody has tried.

Writing is really a way of thinking–not just feeling but thinking about things that are disparate, unresolved, mysterious, problematic or just sweet.

There is really nothing more to say-except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.

I get angry about things, then go on and work.

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

As you enter positions of trust and power, dream a little before you think.

You need a whole community to raise a child. I have raised two children, alone.

You are your own stories.

I don’t think one parent can raise a child. I don’t think two parents can raise a child. You really need the whole village.

But to find out the truth about how dreams die, one should never take the word of the dreamer.

He wants to put his story next to hers.

There is no such thing as race. None. There is just a human race – scientifically, anthropologically. Racism is a construct, a social construct, it has a social function, racism.

Like any artist without an art form, she became dangerous.

Happiness looks good on me, but the pain is so comfortable.

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.

Hurt me with the truth. Don’t comfort me with a lie.

I’ve pretty much done all I can here and, you know, God will carry me the rest of the way, so I’m pretty comfortable with that.

I hope you become comfortable with the use of logic without being deceived into concluding that logic will inevitably lead you to the correct conclusion.

Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.

When you have that respect from your teammates, it makes it a lot more comfortable.

The greatest fine art of the future will be the making of a comfortable living from a small piece of land.