I don't believe in happy families.

Without music, life is a journey through a desert.

It's impossible to explain to a Yankee what 'tacky' is. They simply have no word for it up north, but my God, do they ever need one.

I was born and raised on a Carolina sea island and I carried the sunshine of the low-country, inked in dark gold, on my back and shoulders.

I’ve never had anyone’s approval, so I’ve learned to live without it.

The most powerful words in English are, 'Tell me a story.'

Here is all I ask of a book- give me everything. Everything, and don't leave out a single word.

I stood face to face with the moon and the ocean and the future that spread out with all its bewildering immensity before me.

Good writing ... involves the agony of turning profoundly difficult thoughts into lucid form, then forcing them into the tight-fitting uniform of language, making them visible and clear.

There is no teacher more discriminating or transforming than loss.

The great teachers fill you up with hope and shower you with a thousand reasons to embrace all aspects of life.

Insurances are like very expensive flat rates, except that you have to live by their rules in hope to get back a small share of your money.

Give contemporary POET more SPACE & a long-last MAGIC will surround you all again.

PROPAGANDA (PROP-A-GANDER)An evil grin behind a smiling clown's maskKamil Ali

The dimension of cultural equity needs to be added to the humane continuum of liberty, freedom of speech and religion, and social justice.

I'm still excited at being at a microphone and talking to listeners. I love that. It's the most basic element of what I do and I still enjoy it very much.

We have very substantial weaknesses, including all vital infrastructures.

University students are rarely able to cope with universals and death is the most embarrassing universal.

My first choice had always been my father. He's still my first pick. Now that the nominating process is over, tonight, I'm happy to announce that I'm going to be supporting Governor Romney.

I don't believe biology works in an uncontrolled fashion.

Our ability to grow is directly proportional to an ability to entertain the uncomfortable.