Work

They didn't promise a per diem or payment. Only free food, clothing, weapons, and a guarantee that they would transport our bodies to Rostov-on-Don and give them to our relatives. If, of course, they found them.

Just the fact that no woman has done it, it makes it feel unreachable to some women. You know, like, ‘oh, no woman’s ever done it, so obviously I can’t do it.’ Instead of thinking, ‘no woman’s ever done it, I want to be the one to do it,’ which is the attitude that I took.

Advice to writers: Sometimes you just have to stop writing. Even before you begin.

¦we do not simply get showered with Hollywood money because we happened to write a little story about wizards one day. It’s not winning the lottery. It’s a real job, which real people do, and they have the same real problems as other real people.

A Palestinian has built this home with his money. Are Israelis expecting him to leave just like that?

I don't think women can have it all. I just don't think so...My husband and I have been married for 34 years, and we have two daughters. And every day you have to make a decision about whether you are going to be a wife or a mother. In fact, many times during the day you have to make those decisions…We co-opted our families to help us. We plan our lives meticulously so we can be decent parents. But if you ask our daughters, I'm not sure they will say that I've been a good mom.

If [women] really want it and they are really capable, I think they can make it. If you are determined and passionate about it, I don’t think there are any roadblocks. Gender doesn’t matter at a leadership level.

Gandhi…failed at the Bar. Not just once, but twice. And had he succeeded as a lawyer in Bombay, you and I would not be having this conversation.

When you are giving a certain portion of your life to people and you’re selling it sexually, you’re selling it sensually, and you’re selling it romantically - for you to then take that portion that you give only to fans away and to give it to one person, it kind of… if they don’t approve, it might be crickets for me.

If we wanted a program to help the majority of the population, we’d offer loan guarantees to help poor people get access to reliable cars so that they could have a better shot at getting – and keeping – a well-paying job…A small amount of capital could make a much bigger difference in their lives than extra student loan relief for middle-class college kids would.

Dreams are lovely, but they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It's hard work that makes things happen. It's hard work that creates change.

I just want to be able to work with my friends. And the people who are funny when you’re in the trenches, those are the people you want around you….the only disadvantage women have is [they] have to keep f___ing answering the question of, ‘Is it hard, and are women funny?’ The men don’t have to answer that question. That’s the only impairment.