He is a poor patriot whose patriotism does not enable him to understand how all men everywhere feel about their altars and their hearthstones, their flag and their fatherland.

Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat.

A person wrapped up in himself makes a small package.

Every human life involves an unfathomable mystery, for man is the riddle of the universe, and the riddle of man in his endowment with personal capacities.

In the foothills of the Himalayas, one hears the prayer: "Oh Lord, we know not what is good for us. You know what it is. For it we pray."

I would rather live in a world where my life is surrounded by mystery than live in a world so small that my mind could comprehend it.

Life is like a library owned by the author. In it are a few books which he wrote himself, but most of them were written for him.

No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined.

No virtue is more universally accepted as a test of good character than trustworthiness .

Prayer opens our lives for God so his will can be done in and through us, because in true prayer we habitually put ourselves into the attitude of willingness to do whatever God wills.

It is magnificent to grow old, if one keeps young.

It is not work that kills; but no work and overwork.

When much dispute has past, we find our tenets just the same as last.

When a deposit bottle is broken, you don't get your nickel back.

I just wanted to be a businessman, and to me, the best way to understand business was to be an accountant.

...where's the skill in being a hero if you were always destined to do it?

I used everything you gave me.

I don't write my own songs. I don't have time.

I don't like programming. It's tedious.

George Oppen wasn't a larger than life personality, but I'm not either. And he lived a long time, so he was happy. Going down in flames is fine, too.