An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions.

As fathers commonly go, it is seldom a misfortune to be fatherless; and considering the general run of sons, as seldom a misfortune to be childless.

The mere brute pleasure of reading - the sort of pleasure a cow must have in grazing.

If we do not plant knowledge when young, it will give us no shade when we are old.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Being pretty on the inside means you don't hit your brother and you eat all your peas - that's what my grandma taught me.

Modesty is the only sure bait when you angle for praise.

Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

You must look into people, as well as at them.

A man's own good breeding is the best security against other people's ill manners.

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness, no laziness, no procrastination: never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

You can't predict the future, but you can plan for it

Grace finds us beggars but leaves us debtors.

It's always nerve-wracking when you're hosting "Saturday Night Live." You either sink or swim.

As far as what people think of me, maybe my stuff should just be put online for free downloads when I'm gone.

...in some ways I relied on that- someone to keep me thinking, keep me striving to do better, keep me from burying my head and praying it all worked out.

Intelligent design is consistent with any faith system I can think of, because most faith systems believe that there is a creator.

He who does not travel, who does not read, who does not listen to music, who does not find grace in himself, she who does not find grace in herself, dies slowly.

There are more adventures on a chessboard than on all the seas of the world

I am learning that a man can live profoundly without masses of things.