Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man... , But he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians - wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage.

Stem cell research can revolutionize medicine, more than anything since antibiotics.

We have three cats. It's like having children, but there is no tuition involved.

I couldn't join a party that, frankly, tolerates members who are bigots for one thing, homophobes, racists.

I admire the fact that the central core of Buddhist teaching involves mindfulness and loving kindness and compassion.

Now, ignorance is one thing, ignorance can be cured. But many of the Republican leaders opposing this research know better.

The joke in our family is that we can cry reading the phone book.

You cannot be against embryonic stem cell research and be intellectually and therefore morally consistent, if you're not also against in vitro fertilization.

When you hear somebody justifying a war by citing the Almighty, I get a little worried, frankly.

I have to say that flying on Air Force One sort of spoils you for coach on a regular airline.

My wife and I just prefer Seattle. It's a beautiful city. Great setting. You open your front door in the morning and the air smells like pine and the sea, as opposed to bus exhaust.

Do you have plans or dreams? Why not have both?

The choices you make create your future.

Shannon: Only the living suffered. Only they were riddled with guilt and regret and unanswered questions.

Come back. Even as a shadow, even as a dream.

Humanity wants comfort in its sorrow, light in its darkness, peace in its turmoil, rest in its weariness, and healing in its sickness and diseases: The Gospel gives all of this to us.

I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference.

There's an obsession, within our culture, with the genteel thief. Somebody who commits a crime, but does it in a classy way.

No collection without compensation.

Nonviolent action means mobilization of world opinion in our favour.

For me, what grabs my attention about the project is usually the character immediately and then the story, and then the people that are involved.