“We want autonomy for ourselves and safety for those we love. That remains the main problem and paradox for the frail. Many of the things that we want for those we care about are things we would adamantly oppose for ourselves because they would infringe upon our sense of self.”

“What kind of grandmother am I? I’m a ‘three-dessert’ grandmother. I’m a ‘let’s just skip the bath tonight, honey, and watch another video’ grandmother.”

“I read for growth, firmly believing that what you are today and what you will be in 5 years depends on two things: the people you meet and the books you read.”

“We imagine things- that we wouldn’t be able to survive, but in fact, we do survive. We have no choice, so we do it.”

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

“Our very lives depend on the ethics of strangers, and most of us are always strangers to other people.”