Books are all the dreams we would most like to have and like dreams they have the power to change consciousness.

Dynasties rise and fall according to what the Chinese used to call ‘the mandate of heaven’, but life for the peasant changes little.

If forced to choose between the penitentiary and the White House for four years I would say the penitentiary thank you.

I am always surprised by people who speak of faith as if it happens in the air somewhere. Our bodies are God's best way of getting to us. Revelation begins in the flesh.

Social security is the most successful government program in our nation's history. We are not going to cut social security! We are going to expand social security!

Devoid of all romance, the music plays and everyone must dance. I'm bowing out.

Babies are like poems. They're beautiful to their creator, but to other people, they're silly and they're irritating.

Perfect grammar - persistent, continuous, sustained - is the fourth dimension, so to speak; many have sought it, but none has found it.

Jennifer [Lawrence] and Josh [Hutcherson] seem very, very grounded. They're getting down to the film like they did last time.

I hope I'm becoming more eccentric. More room in the brain.

Some there be that shadows kiss; Such have but a shadow's bliss.