Captain Ahab drowned, he reminded himself; it was the trimmer, Ishmael, who survived.

There are things you break that can't be put back together again. And Kashmir may be one of them.

Rock and roll music - the music of freedom frightens people and unleashes all manner of conservative defense mechanisms.

What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.

One of the extraordinary things about human events is that the unthinkable becomes thinkable.

Language is courage: the ability to conceive a thought, to speak it, and by doing so to make it true.

‘Respect for religion’ has become a code phrase meaning ‘fear of religion.’ Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire, and, yes, our fearless disrespect.

In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips.

Language upon a silvered tongue affords enchantment enough.

The whole story of migration and what that has done in interconnecting the planet is obviously something I've written about a lot.

faith without doubt is addiction

Leaders are people who believe so passionately that they can seduce other people into sharing their dream.

Life continues to flow even if you want to stop for a moment.

I want to be owned by you.

Freedom is a struggle, and we do it together. Not only together as black citizens, but black and white together.

You have to believe in yourself and be strong.

If many people love me, then I must be important.

No. I'm simply saying that life, uh, finds a way.

Never again shall a single story be told as though it were the only one.

In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond.

So, I was always frustrated having to write and having to cut things. Why should you have to cut anything?