I was one of those fortunate individuals who grew up in a large, passionate, demonstrative Italian family where we were taught to love as naturally as we breathed and ate giant bowls of pasta!

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Don't spend your precious time asking "Why isn't the world a better place?" It will only be time wasted. The question to ask is "How can I make it better?" To that there is an answer.

Love yourself-accept yourself-forgive yourself-and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.

The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position.

Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more intoxicating!

Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.

I have a very strong feeling that the opposite of love is not hate - it's apathy. It's not giving a damn.

The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.

Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism.

Life is uncharted territory. It reveals its story one moment at a time.

We have not reached the consensus that to eat is a basic human right. This is an ethical crisis. This is a crisis of faith.

Fear waters the weeds of regret.

What makes life dreary is want of motive.

I discovered Deborah Ellis's books in the school library after my head teacher encouraged me to go beyond the school curriculum and look for books I might enjoy.

The idea of a soulmate is beautiful and very romantic to talk about it in a movie or a song, but in reality, I find it scary.

It's going to be hard for someone like me to run for president.

The senator got so tired on the campaign trail that he started kissing hands and shaking babies.

And there is, I am certain, among the Iraqi people a respect for the care and the precision that went into the bombing campaign.

Being queen is overrated.

Sometimes you have to fulfill a promise in order to deserve the love you're given.