I don't underestimate the power of mental preparation throughout all of my training. I'm in a much better state of mind about competition.

I protect my skin with sunscreen and am religious about keeping my face moisturized and properly protected all day, so I also use a face lotion with SPF 30.

I concentrate on preparing to swim my race and let the other swimmers think about me, not me about them.

Sometimes success is simply being willing to give it your all.

Breaking composure, confidence, and speed in the water makes you lose the race, not the goggles that fell off your head when you dove in.

In swimming, everyone calls me grandma, because I'm the oldest there. Then with my friends, I'm the youngest and I'm the baby. It's definitely bizarre.

To look good in the water you have to pick the right swimsuit. I own close to 500.

If you want me to swim fast, you have to let me enjoy my life.

Some people like to focus on other aspects of my life, but first and foremost I am a dedicated and top swimmer.

Malfunctions are inevitable. It's important to push through them during practice - versus stopping to fix and restart - so that you're prepared for one mid-competition.

People wanted to be friends with me for not the right reasons. They'd introduce me to somebody else as the Olympian or the swimmer. I didn't want to stand out. I wanted to blend in.

But—" yelped Twizbang, “Greydor will eat us!

David, I’ll fly for you, if you’ll love me!”“Fly, then.”“I can’t fly, but love me anyway.”“Poor wingless child!”“Is it so hard to love me?”“Do you think you are easy, my illusive possession?

'Lady Wisdom' is my wife and those I reach with Truth understood are my children".~R. Alan Woods [2012]

With Pearl Jam, everybody is so good at what they do, it's hard to get up the courage to say, Can I sing this part, or, I want to play guitar. I feel like I have more courage to do that.

A poet must have died as a man before he is worth anything as a poet.

I choose to live, not just exist.

There is nothing so small but that we may honor God by asking His guidance of it, or insult Him by taking it into our own hands.

Any number of depraved units cannot form a great nation.

Your love is better than chocolate. Better than anything else that I've tried.