I'm just a journalist. I shine a mirror to the culture. I give the cop-out answer.

Media has changed dramatically, as you and I know. We're in a world now where you're rewarded for being outrageous. Punditry has replaced reporting as the gold standard of journalism.

I think as long as you're straight with people, as long as you honor ground rules, as long as you serve your readers, you're going to get the door opened for you.

I'm sure people are badmouthing me. I think one of the interesting parts about the criticism has been the tenor of "how dare he." How dare an insider speak critically about other insiders?

I always keep my repertorial hat on.

Spirituality in Washington can be more of a - I don't want to say it - but, a networking opportunity. Religion is often used opportunistically in the political conversation.

I think that part of being a good journalist, part of being an awake member of the world youre in, is to view yourself as an outsider, and I always have, to some degree.

Washington has always had a pretty healthy amount of self-loathing.

The shaming of Washington, insofar as it is even possible, is a very noble pursuit.

I've done a lot of tough stories over the years. I've done a lot of profiles over the years that have not always been, shall we say, helpful for the person who is being written about.

I work for a big newspaper, and I guess I'm an insider. I don't have the luxury of calling myself a foreign correspondent and just swooping in and then leaving.

Happiness is health.

You know, mistress, that I love you, and shall love you always

When you get a principle on which everyone is agreed, you get the beginning of complacency and deterioration.

I can't believe that I've written my best work yet. If I believed that, then I wouldn't bother releasing music anymore.

I think sometimes you just lose your focus, and I think that's easy to do when you start getting more fame, more money, more power.

It's not great faith you need; it is faith in a great God.

The story of mankind began in a garden and ended in revelations.

The average bloke . . . hates and fears all freedom, not only for others but for himself, and stamps it out wherever possible.

If history teaches anything, it teaches self-delusion in the face of unpleasant facts is folly.

I cannot imagine how the clockwork of the universe can exist without a clockmaker.