I have never been able to look upon America as young and vital but rather as prematurely old, as a fruit which rotted before it had a chance to ripen.

If there is to be any peace it will come through being, not having.

Whatever there be of progress in life comes not through adaptation but through daring.

In expanding the field of knowledge we but increase the horizon of ignorance.

A book lying idle on a shelf is wasted ammunition.

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, drunkenly, serenely, divinely aware.

It is with the soul that we grasp the essence of another human being, not with the mind, nor even with the heart.

either you take in believing in miracles or you stand still like the hummingbird.

Chaos is the score upon which reality is written.

Art is only a means to life, the life more abundant. It merely points the way.

Man has demonstrated that he is master of everything - except his own nature.

Why change? Everyone has his own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it.

Let us keep enough money to enjoy each breath we take, but definitely not too much, if we don’t want to spoil the fragrance of our dreams and the poem of life.

No matter how you are taught by your teacher about how to recite a poem, it is impossible to wear your teacher's smiling face to the stage. You got to change your own face into a smiling one!

...the power of grace can work great things in the human person, greater than we might have dared to hope...(pg.52 in The Examen Prayer).

To be remembered is, I think, a basic human right. Not one that occurs to a person when it is there, but like a parched throat in the desert when it is gone.

Grace is given of god, but knowledge is bought in the market.

A human being is only interesting if he's in contact with himself.

-You forgot something important! -What? -It's under my sweater! -WHAT?! -Me!

Growing up with country, R&B, gospel, and classical music from my grandmother and pop, Tuskegee was the perfect melting pot for my influences as a writer.

Think more like the rich if you want to create more wealth.