"I wrote Baghdad Central right after translating a great work by Ibrahim al-Koni, who is sort of a master of Arab fiction. In conversations with him I realized that translations have been my MFA program. If I have learned how to write fiction it's by working with great writers and getting them to explain their craft to me so that I can do it in English. That's how I've figured it out."

“There's lots of problem solving in any marriage, but when you have this collective goal that is a human being, it's an inspiring rally point.”

Source : Biography/Personal Quotes, www.imdb.com.

“You look beautiful - David”

“Independence is never given to a people, it has to be earned; and, once earned, must be defended.”

“There never was night that had no morn.”

“A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill requires only our silence, which costs us nothing.”

Source : John Tillotson (1794). “The Beauties of Dr. John Tillotson, Carefullet Selected from His Works [and] Containing His Admirable System of Early Education, Thoughts on Religion, Atheism and Infidelity, the Immortality of the Soul, Etc: To which are Prefixed Some of His Arguments for the Truth and Belief of the Christian Religion”, p.195

“The pride of the peacock is the glory of God. The lust of the goat is the bounty of God. The wrath of the lion is the wisdom of God. The nakedness of woman is the work of God.”

“Look in the mirror, and laugh at yourself.”

“I have a secret weapon. And it could have something to do with special robot knowledge.”