I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. Scout

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.

The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that.

The things that happen to people we never really know. What happens in houses behind closed doors, what secrets -

People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.

Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.

He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.

Things are always better in the morning.

It's not necessary to tell all you know.

Writing is a process of self-discipline you must learn before you can call yourself a writer. There are people who write, but I think they're quite different from people who must write.

...but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself.

I hope that in my books there's an undertone of politics, basic tenets of how we should live.

My parents always felt if I worked hard enough I could make any dream come true.

... laughter is lovelier than tears in bed.

I've always had lots of friends who share my perspective - I guess you could say that I'm a guy who aggressively pursues his happiness.

I'm not afraid of dying I'm afraid of not trying

I don't know whether I prefer Astroturf to grass. I never smoked Astroturf.

Attempting to grapple with improving end-of-life care is a political third rail.

The Congress talks and talks and talks and talks, but doesn't act. I'm going to continue to work with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to bring about comprehensive immigration reform.

If you fail to go within, you will go without.

Ultimately, I am very filmmaker oriented, as a producer.