"I'm not really a children's writer. I'm a writer who writes for children."

"It's a troublesome world. All the people who are in it are troubled with troubles, except me."

"I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind."

"I'm not a preacher. I'm a storyteller."

"I’m afraid that sometimes you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ’cause you’ll play against you."