In a democratic society, the only treason is silence.

The thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself.

I would be the most content if my children grew up to be the kind of people who think decorating consists mostly of building enough bookshelves.

A finished person is a boring person.

There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother... Oh, how I hated that little boy. And how I love him too.

After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough,' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought, 'I'm enough.'

Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.

There is a lot of talk now about metal detectors and gun control. Both are good things. But they are no more a solution than forks and spoons are a solution to world hunger.

Look back, to slavery, to suffrage, to integration and one thing is clear. Fashions in bigotry come and go. The right thing lasts.

You are the only person alive who has sole custody of your life ... Your entire life ... Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank account, but your soul.

America is a country that seems forever to be toddler or teenager, at those two stages of human development characterized by conflict between autonomy and security.

He who speaks without modesty will find it difficult to make his words good.

She's no longer afraid to die. What she's afraid of is living, accepting the status quo.

Self-pitying, self-righteous, self-important, all the selfs except self-confident, the quality that she always needed the most.

A painter leaves his emotions behind him for posterity to share.

It is not necessary to wait until all conditions for making revolution exist; the insurrection can create them.

I can wade Grief -- Whole Pools of it -- I'm used to that -- But the least push of Joy Breaks up my feet -- And I tip -- drunken -- Let no Pebble -- smile -- 'Twas the New Liquor -- That was all!

A good reputation for yourself and your company is an invaluable asset not reflected in the balance sheets.

I have worshipped woman as the living embodiment of the spirit of service and sacrifice.

Live in such a way that the world will be glad you did.

It takes one second to ruin a woman's life.