Innocence is thought charming because it offers delightful possibilities for exploitation.

Pain narrows consciousness; pleasure blurs it.

When Medusa looks in the mirror, she sees the Lady of Sorrows.

My passions have never jumped out of the fireplace and set fire to the carpet.

Retirement requires the invention of a new hedonism, not a return to the hedonism of youth

The sewing machine joins what the scissors have cut asunder, plus whatever else comes in its path.

Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story.

The laughter of the aphorism is sometimes triumphant, but seldom carefree.

'Be faithful to your roots' is the liberal version of 'Stay in your ghetto.'

Every day begins with an act of courage and hope: getting out of bed.

Totem poles and wooden masks no longer suggest tribal villages but fashionable drawing rooms in New York and Paris.

I may deserve your disappointment as well as a lecture and strict discipline, but what I need is your understanding, your guidance, and your unconditional love.

To know how to grow old is the master-work of wisdom and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living.

Put aside the need to know some future design and simply leave your life open to what is needed of it by the Divine forces.

I didn't have any friends at school, didn't want any. I felt better being alone. I sat on a bench and watched the others play and they looked foolish to me.

Turn in your guns at your local church

It is through beauty that we arrive at freedom.

But what can a decent man speak of with most pleasure? Answer: Of himself. Well, so I will talk about myself.

It will take hard work, but doing nothing on Social Security, for example, simply makes sure the system will go broke. It's time to make some reforms.

You cannot hear opportunities knocking if you are busy knocking opportunities.

Happiness is open to all, since, when you boil it down, it merely consists of contentment with what you have got and doing what you can for other people.