“I would like to make you more aware of yourself as a human, and thus, ultimately a better person.”

“Being a good person, or a better person, or whatever it is you're worried about and trying to fix? It shouldn't change who you are. It means you become more like yourself.”

“Self awareness gives us ultimate human freedom.”

“Literature deals with morality but does not necessarily, does not, qua literature, help you to be more moral, either by precept or example. It makes you more aware. Which is to say that it makes you more human by making life more, not less, difficult. When you become more aware, the area of moral choice is widened. You can be a better man; you can also be a worse. Literature will not determine which. It is the equivalent of neither grace nor good works.”

“The marriage partner is not really the problem. No other person can ultimately make you happy. You must learn how to be happy within yourself.”

“Love is being able to be yourself, with another human being who makes you want to be better than yourself.”