I prefer a loose woman to a selfish one and a wanton to a fool.

Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.

It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.

If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.

The secret to life is meaningless unless you discover it yourself.

The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.

It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. They are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved.

The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.

Each time a flower blooms, the world is reminded that there is beauty in new beginnings.

Happiness is a choice you make when you allow faith through the entry gate and fear through the exit gate.

I love to write. But it has never gotten any easier to do and you can't expect it to if you keep trying for something better than you can do.

In the lead up to the Iraq war and its later conduct, I saw at a minimum, true dereliction, negligence and irresponsibility, at worse, lying, incompetence and corruption.

I have surrendered to God; therefore I surrender to nothing else.

People don't change just because you know more about them.

It is said that the inferior seek to emulate the superior. Thus, if a general slackens only a little, those beneath him will be greatly negligent.

I take a hiatus every now and again, but I'm not good at that.

The ultimate test of our integrity is not how we deal with those whom we agree but how we deal with those who we do not agree.

Do thou amend thy face, and I'll amend my life.