In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. – Jane Smiley

When a novel has 200,000 words, then it is possible for the reader to experience 200,000 delights, and to turn back to the first page of the book and experience them all over again, perhaps more intensely. – Jane Smiley

I was an only child. Ive known only children. From this experience, I do believe that the children should outnumber the parents. – Jane Smiley