An old-growth forest, a mountain range or a river valley is more important and certainly more loveable than any country will ever be.

This was the trouble with families. Like invidious doctors, they knew just where it hurt.

That it really began in the days when the Love Laws were made. The laws that lay down who should be loved, and how. And how much.

The way her body existed only where he touched her. The rest of her was smoke.

the truth is that it's far easier to make a bomb than to educate four hundred million people.

I never do anything because I'm a celebrity, as a rule. I do what I do as a citizen.

America is like some crazed, bewildered, rich giant bumbling around in a poor area with his pockets stuffed with money, and lots of weapons - just throwing stuff around.

If you want to control somebody, support them. Or marry them.

But can we, should we, let apprehensions about the future immobilize us in the present?

Cage the People, Free the Money. The only thing that is allowed to move freely - unimpeded - around the world today is money... capital.

If you're not religious, then look at it this way. This world of ours is four thousand, six hundred million years old. It could end in an afternoon.

Nilekani's technocratic obsession with gathering data is consistent with that of Bill Gates, as though lack of information is what is causing world hunger.

I sometimes think I was perhaps the only girl in India whose mother said, "Whatever you do, don't get married". For me, when I see a bride, it gives me a rash. I find them ghoulish, almost.

Novels are such mysterious and amorphous and tender things. And here we are with our crash helmets on, with concertina wire all around us.

Human rights takes history out of justice.

She viewed ethnic cleansing, famine and genocide as direct threats to her furniture.

Humans are animals of habit.

Thousands are losing their jobs and homes, while corporations are being bailed out with billions of dollars.

To stay quiet is as political an act as speaking out.