Everyone who has any familiarity with psychology knows about the danger of disowning the murderer within. Far fewer people understand the tragedy of disowning the hero within.

The greater a child’s terror, and the earlier it is experienced, the harder it becomes to develop a strong and healthy sense of self.

Fear and pain should be treated as signals not to close our eyes but to open them wider.

We must become what we wish to teach.

I am responsible for my own existence and happiness.

A mind that trusts itself is light on its feet.

Self-esteem is the reputation we acquire with ourselves.

In the inner courtroom of my mind, mine is the only judgment that counts.

To persevere with the will to understand in the face of obstacles is the heroism of consciousness.

Most of us are capable of more than we believe.

Your life is important. Honor it. Fight for your highest possibilities.

Someday my prince will come, ” she lamented softly, “too fast.

If you will use your fingers to count your own mistakes, you won't have time to finger others.

I did not have a very literary background. I came to poetry from the sciences and mathematics, and also through an interest in Japanese and Chinese poetry in translation.

After my mother died, I found, a little book of hers which recorded everything I had ever done, how I had done it, and how proud she was of her son Conrad.

I don't throw people under the bus. When I stick by a guy - I may not agree with him all the time, but I sure don't throw him under the bus.

I have friends who've tried to break into the UK, who went back with their tails between their legs. Fortunately I've had the opposite experience.

All on the street, you get treated like a street cat: "All right, you've been eatin' enough, you're fat, get out of the way now and let somebody else come by."

Having a diverse sense of taste - or lack of taste - I loved so many different things. I was drawn to the stupidity and excitement of glam, I had a thorough upbringing in rhythm and blues.

When you look at the biggest study of the American dream, the number-one correlate for upward mobility is having two parents in a home. It doesn't matter if they're male or female.

We should never be at the mercy of Providence if only we understood that we ourselves are Providence.