“Women's anger is very scary to people, and to no one more than to othe...” — Claire Messud Quote

Women's anger is very scary to people, and to no one more than to other women, who think, 'My goodness, if I let the lid off, where would we be?'

Writing with kids is an adventure. It seems like someone always has the flu or pink-eye. I mean, you don't even have to be in direct contact with anyone to get pink-eye. But for parents who write, flexibility becomes essential, and as long as I have a pad of paper and a pen, I can write anywhere. Starbucks is fine.

If I had to summarize, most broadly, my concerns as a writer, I'd say the question 'How then must we live?' is at the heart of it, for me.

I'd wish for my work to be remembered rather than myself.

A lot of artists think they want anger. But a real, strong, bitter anger occupies the mind, leaving no room for creativity.

When you start suppressing feelings at an early age, it hurts you down the road. Full expression of anger and pain is very important.

I have to say that anger is the blanket that comes around me, and that blunts and blurs my sense of proportion.

I was very sensitive, so when sensitivity has no place to go, it's often turned into anger or frustration.

My first reaction every time I delve into an episode of history that I don't know very much about is... my first reaction is anger that my teachers never taught me about it.