He scarcely knew who was battling whom, who was winning, who was losing, as though he hoped that by doggedly ignoring the war it would return the favor

— Khaled Hosseini

He thought about his long life and gave thanks for all the bounty and joy that he had been given. To want more, to wish for yet more, he knew, would be petty. He sighed happily, and listened to the wind sweeping down from the mountains, to the chirping of night birds.

— Khaled Hosseini

He used to wonder how such a frail little body could house so much joy, so much goodness. It couldn't. It spilled out of her, came pouring out her eyes.

— Khaled Hosseini

I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975. I remember the precise moment, crouching behind a crumbling mud wall, peeking into the alley near the frozen creek. That was a long time ago, but it’s wrong what they say about the past, I’ve learned, about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out. Looking back now, I realize I have been peeking into that deserted alley for the last twenty-six years.

— Khaled Hosseini

I could wade into this river, let my sins drown to the bottom, let the waters carry me someplace far. Someplace with no ghosts, no memories, and no sins.

— Khaled Hosseini

I don't know if you have children of your own, Mariano, but if you do, I pray that God look after them and spare you the grief that I have known. I still dream of them. Furthermore, I still dream of my dead children. I have dreams of you too, Mariam Jo. Furthermore, I miss you. Furthermore, I miss the sound of your voice, your laughter. Furthermore, I miss reading to you, and all those times we fished together. Do you remember all those times we fished together? You were a good daughter, Mariam Jo, and I cannot ever think of you without feeling shame and regret. Regret… When it comes to you, Mariano, I have oceans of it. I regret that I did not see you the day you came to Heart. I regret that I did not open the door and take you in. Furthermore, I regret that I did not make you a daughter to me, that l let you live in that place for all those years. And for what? Fear of losing face? Of staining my so-called good name? How little those things matter to me now after all the loss, all the terrible things I have seen in this cursed war. But now, of course, it is too late. Perhaps this is just punishment for those who have been heartless, to understand only when nothing can be undone. Now all I can do is say that you were a good daughter, Mariano, and that I never deserved you. Now all I can do is ask for your forgiveness. So forgive me, Mariano. Forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me.

— Khaled Hosseini

I don't know if you have children of your own, Mariano, but if you do, I pray that God look after them and spare you the grief that I have known. I still dream of them. Furthermore, I still dream of my dead children. I have dreams of you too, Mariam Jo. Miss you. I miss the sound of your voice, your laughter. I miss reading to you, and all those times we fished together. Do you remember all those times we fished together? You were a good daughter, Mariam Jo, and I cannot ever think of you without feeling shame and regret. Regret… When it comes to you, Mariano, I have oceans of it. I regret that I did not see you the day you came to Heart. I regret that I did not open the door and take you in. Furthermore, I regret that I did not make you daughter to me, that l let you live in that place for all those years. And for what? Fear of losing face? Of staining my so-called good name? How little those things matter to me now after all the loss, all the terrible things I have seen in this cursed war. But now, of course, it is too late. Perhaps this is just punishment for those who have been heartless, to understand only when nothing can be undone. Now all I can do is say that you were a good daughter, Mariano, and that I never deserved you. Now all I can do is ask for your forgiveness. So forgive me, Mariano. Forgive me. Forgive me. Forgive me.

— Khaled Hosseini

I entered the literary world, really, from outside. My entire background has been in sciences; I was a biology major in college, then went to medical school. I've never had any formal training in writing.

— Khaled Hosseini

I finally had what I'd wants all those years. Except now that I had it, I felt as empty as this unkempt pool I was dangling my legs into.

— Khaled Hosseini

If there's a God out there, then I would hope he has more important things to attend to than my drinking scotch or eating pork.

— Khaled Hosseini