“I've never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I've been angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must fight. Like being born under a storm...”

“You are first and foremost a person. A reckless, foolish person, but a person nonetheless. If I ever say you are not permitted to do something, rest assured that the last reason I would ever say so...”

“I believe the stars align so souls can find one another. Whether they are meant to be souls in love or souls in life remains to be seen.”

“The stars could fall - the moon could crash from the heavens - and Mariko could not care.”

“Without risk, life is far too predictable”

“I was aware of something stable in his nature. Ha game me a feeling of security, as if nothing I said or did would change his opinion of me. I never found his pleasantries irksome, partly, no doubt...”

“But when we sit together, close, said Bernard, we melt into each other with phrases. We are edged with mist. We make an unsubstantial territory.”

“You praise man who has the ability to perform great actions.I admire man who can deal with great pain and knows no despair.”

“I think that when you are famous every weakness is exaggerated.”

“My strength and my weakness are twins in the same womb.”

“Only strength can cooperate. Weakness can only beg.”