“New Jersey is to New York what Santo Domingo is to the United States. ...” — Junot Diaz Quote

“New Jersey is to New York what Santo Domingo is to the United States. I always felt that those two landscapes, not only just the landscapes themselves but their relationships to what we would call 'a center' or 'the center of the universe,' has in some ways defined my artistic and critical vision.”

“When I got heartbroken at 20, it just felt like someone had spiraled a football right into my skull. At 40, it feels like someone had driven a 757 right through me.”

“I was neither black enough for the black kids or Dominican enough for the Dominican kids. I didn't have a safe category.”

“People believe that art and science are two distinct realms. It is far from the truth because, if you look at science from a microscope or from a different lens, you can see the beauty in science. It is very artistic.”

“We were always drawing comics as kids. My brother Charles made me draw comics. I was very much under his domination. He was actually a much stronger artistic visionary than I was.”

“The first time with artistic endeavors is, if it's working, it was your idea, and if it's not, it's somebody else's idea.”