Pain and fear and hunger are effects of causes which can be foreseen and known: but sorrow is a debt which someone else makes for us.

The great and almost only comfort about being a woman is that one can always pretend to be more stupid than one is and no one is surprised.

To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.

Few are the giants of the soul who actually feel that the human race is their family circle.

My work's never been accepted by my family, but it's something I'll always carry on with.

I'm happiest with my family around me.

As I flew back from New Zealand to bury my mother, it occurred to me that no matter how harrowing her loss was and how keenly it will always be felt, there was, nevertheless, a sense of relief that my father, sisters and I could say a final goodbye after the longest goodbye and relief that my mum had finally been released.

Being from a middle-class Indian family, I learned Carnatic music.