In the decades following the Revolution, America changed so much and so rapidly that Americans not only became used to change, but came to expected and prize it.

Americans became so thoroughly democratic that much of the period's political activity, beginning with the Constitution, was diverted to finding means and devices to tame that democracy.

Virtue became less the harsh and martial self-sacrifice of antiquity and more the modern willingness to get along with others for the sake of peace and prosperity.

He was a thinker, but also a man of action.

The British feel of blues has been hard, rather than emotional. Far too much emphasis on 12 bar, too little attention to words, far too little originality.

It is bad enough to see young fools, but worse to see old fools.

There is not a thought that is being thought in the West or the East that is not active in some Indian mind

Peace of heart - without it, no good can make us happy. With it, every trial, even the approach of death, can be borne.

Too many songs, weak rhymes that's mad long. Make it brief son: half short, twice strong!

As I've been acting since I was young it's taught me to give a good speech, and, though I say so myself, I did it pretty well.

With fame, you know, you can read about yourself, somebody else's ideas about you, but what's important is how you feel about yourself - for survival and living day to day with what comes up.

Less money spent on billboards that just make us feel good about ourselves and more on soup kitchens and organized visits to the sick and dying.

I get my ideas for books from my own kids and sometimes from other children. Often when I am telling stories I will say: I am going to make up a new story.