I learned to love my son without wanting to possess him and I learned how to teach him to teach himself.

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.

You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.

A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face.

Make every effort to change things you do not like. If you cannot make a change, change the way you have been thinking. You might find a new solution.

I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.(Popular misquote of "You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.")

I am never proud to participate in violence, yet I know that each of us must care enough for ourselves that we can be ready and able to come to our own defense when and wherever needed.

In an unfamiliar culture, it is wise to offer no innovations, no suggestions, or lessons. The epitome of sophistication is utter simplicity.

...one can never leave home...one carries the shadows, the dreams, the dragons of home under one's skin, at the extreme corners of one's eyes...

I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

I was wondering — I mean — could there be some mistake? Because nobody called me and Scrubb, you know. It was we who asked to come here. You would not have called me unless I had been calling you.

…surprised all over again at how very comforting very bad food can be.

There is danger in courage. Cowardice is a power for good. We hardly know what it prevents.

The draft that finally goes to my editor doesn't get into her hands until I have read it out loud innumerable times - sometimes into a tape recorder - to make sure that it sounds right.

I think the pattern of my essays is, A funny thing happened to me on my way through Finnegans Wake.

I've got a full plate, yes I do. That iPod that's nice. A phone recorder? Nicely done. All right I'm a bit of a tech geek. I have a subscription to Popular Science and I keep up on all this stuff.

It's just that that feels discriminatory to me, "the ideal woman." The concept of ideal is fleeting. It's like "perfect." There's no such thing.

self-sacrifice is one of a woman's seven deadly sins (along with self-abuse, self-loathing, self-deception, self-pity, self-serving, and self-immolation).

No matter what sign you were born under, everybody else's horoscope will be more fun than yours.