All works of art are commissioned in the sense that no artist can create one by a simple act of will but must wait until what he believes to be a good idea for a work comes to him.

Thousands have lived without love, not one without water.

Water is the soul of the Earth.

We are all here on earth to help others; what on earth the others are here for I don't know.

We would rather be ruined than changed. We would rather die in our dread than climb the cross of the moment and let our illusions die.

Civilizations should be measured by the degree of diversity attained and the degree of unity retained.

Herds of reindeer move across Miles and miles of golden moss

All sins tend to be addictive, and the terminal point of addiction is damnation.

'Healing,' Papa would tell me, 'is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing nature.'

Few people take an interest in Iceland, but in those few the interest is passionate.

No good opera plot can be sensible, for people do not sing when they are feeling sensible.

Not all people are 'people', some are more and some are less. But only those who listen intently with their hearts will recognise them for what they are.

Empathy needs no genius.

Those who neglect the lessons of their past are doomed to no future.

Never stop learning knowledge doubles every fourteen months.

The tree is a slow, enduring force straining to win the sky.

When we kiss my heart's on fire, burning with a strange desire. And I know that every time I kiss you, that your heart's on fire, too.

Form 1040 was chosen by the IRS because for every $50 you earn, you get 10 and they get 40.

When shooting a story about someone, their hands should always be on your list to shoot.

~I use humor instead of getting into that whole yes and no thing all the time. It's about just getting them to laugh rather than getting in power struggles.~

Being aloof, gruff, or stern never got anyone anywhere. Who wants to be treated like that? Certainly not you. And surely not the people you meet.