'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.'
—Mahatma Gandhi

'A NOVELIST’S BUSINESS is lying. . . . In fact, while we read a novel, we are insane—bonkers. We believe in the existence of people who aren’t there, we hear their voices, we watch the battle of Borodino with them, we may even become Napoleon. Sanity returns (in most cases) when the book is closed. Is it any wonder that no truly respectable society has ever trusted its artists?'
Ursula K. Le Guin, author, The Left Hand of Darkness (Ace Books, 1987)

'ONE HAS TO WONDER if it will ever again be possible to believe this nation, or any other, can ignore any strife, any extremist deed, that occurs however far beyond its borders. There is no safe haven for anyone in a world turned toxic with hatred of others. Will this make us stronger world citizens? Or just more isolationist and nationalistic? Will this lead to awareness of world conditions?'
Jean Godden, columnist, Seattle Times (Sept. 12, 2001)

'WE ARE ALL OF US all the time coming together and falling apart. The point is, we are not rocks. Who wants to be one anyway, impermeable, unchanging, our history already played out. . . .'
John Rosenthal, photographer, The Sun (No. 63)

'MY MOST FAVORITE DREAM is the one where I live in a library, where the walls and the furniture are all made of books.'
Shay Youngblood, author, Alice (1:2)