At first, when a child meets something that scares him, the fear grows, like a wave. But when he goes into the water and swims - gets used to the water - the wave grows small. If we pull the child away when the wave is high, he never sees that, never learns how to swim and remains afraid. If he gets a chance to feel strong, in control, that's called coping. When he copes, he feels better.

— Jonathan Kellerman

Fools write books about madness being an elevated mental state or an alternative form of creativity. It's not, it's anguish.

— Jonathan Kellerman

I'd long thought that a surfeit of sensitivity could be a killing thing, too much insight malignant in its own right. The best survivors--there are studies that show it--are those blessed with an inordinate ability to deny. And keep on marching.

— Jonathan Kellerman

I don't practice, but I am still officially in pediatrics. I keep in touch with journals, and I have a very good data bank of medical information and there is a key thing for a writer knowing where to go. Furthermore, I know where to go to get the information that I need.

— Jonathan Kellerman

If you ask me, psychopaths are more talented than the rest of us... but they're still fucking psychopaths.

— Jonathan Kellerman

O Great Swami of the East, your wisdom has pierced the miasma.

— Jonathan Kellerman

Optimism is denial for chumps with no life experience"." What's pessimism?" I said." Religion without God.

— Jonathan Kellerman

Revenge was a dish best eaten cold, but eight years between was arctic.

— Jonathan Kellerman

These people are real to me, and situations keep coming up where their emergence feels natural. It's like meeting old friends. I hope readers feel the same way.

— Jonathan Kellerman

To trust someone is to take the greatest risk of all. (180)

— Jonathan Kellerman