Kaling: "I just have my characters say my controversial opinions and then hide behind them."

Kaling: "I never want to be called the funniest Indian female comedian that exists. I feel like I can go head-to-head with the best white, male comedy writers that are out there. Why would I want to self-categorize myself into a smaller group than I'm able to compete in?"

Kaling: "Comedy writers have the most fragile egos."

Kaling: "Sometimes I eavesdrop on people. I could rationalize it - oh, this is good anthropological research for characters I'm writing - but it's basically just nosiness. It also helps me gauge where I'm at: Am I normal?"

Kaling: "I think as humans, no one remembers their successes, everyone just remembers their failures."

Kaling: "What I'd really like to write is a romantic comedy. This is my favorite kind of movie. I feel almost embarrassed revealing this, because the genre has been so degraded in the past twenty years that saying you like romantic comedies is essentially an admission of mild stupidity."

Kaling: "We always think of a diet with a big groan. But I think diets are fun. I think it is an American pastime for a lot of women."

Kaling: "I am a super-confident writer, and as a joke writer and as an actress, I'm like, 'I want to go head-to-head with every person.' I am an Indian woman and I'm a kind of double minority in this world."

Kaling: "Fast food is hugely important in the life of a comedy writer. All we do is order in, and what we're going to eat is hotly debated."

Kaling: "I try not to put anything political on the forefront of what I'm trying to do creatively. At the same time, I do think it's wonderful when I hear people say that it's inspirational that I'm an Indian woman on camera. My life is very diverse, and my friends are a diverse group of people."

Kaling: "I have such a rich fantasy life, I can't help it. I do make up a lot of romantic stories in my head."

Kaling: "When men hear women want a commitment, they think it means commitment to a romantic relationship, but that's not it. It's a commitment to not floating around anymore. I want a guy who is entrenched in his own life. Entrenched is awesome."

Kaling: "I would love if gay men responded to me. All I want is for many gay men to dress up as me for Halloween."