A thing either is what it appears to be; or it is not, but yet appears to be; or it is, but does not appear to be; or it is not, and does not appear to be.

It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.

Any person capable of angering you becomes your master.

Don't be concerned with other people's impressions of you. They are dazzled and deluded by appearances. Stick with your purpose. This alone will strengthen your will and give your life coherence.

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

I have to die. If it is now, well then I die now; if later, then now I will take my lunch, since the hour for lunch has arrived - and dying I will tend to later.

From this instant on, vow to stop disappointing yourself. Separate yourself from the mob. Decide to be extraordinary and do what you need to do -- now.

Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours.

Don't explain your philosophy. Embody it.

If someone speaks badly of you, do not defend yourself against the accusations, but reply; "you obviously don't know about my other vices, otherwise you would have mentioned these as well

A novelist is a person who lives in other people's skins.

When it comes to achieving, what matters is you to know, what you really want and make up your mind to believe in your own efforts that you will achieve and you will make it with ease.

Okay, but if you try to get me to pray with you, I walk.

sometimes music isn't just a bunch of sounds and lyrics, sometimes it's more than that: a time machine...

I have a dream that America will pray and God will forgive us our sins.

Ted Kennedy is endorsing John Kerry and I'm wondering, do you really want the endorsement of a guy with a Bloody Mary mustache?

Chekhov - shall I be blunt? - is the greatest short story writer who ever lived.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

I really love the festival circuit.

I have no self-centeredness or ego about being a movie star.