It is one of the ironies of history that reformers so often misjudge the consequences of their reforms.

Excellence is doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

Political extremism involves two prime ingredients: an excessively simple diagnosis of the world's ills, and a conviction that there are identifiable villains back of it all.

The ultimate goal of the educational system is to shift to the individual the burden of pursuing his education.

Men of integrity, by their very existence, rekindle the belief that as a people we can live above the level of moral squalor. We need that belief; a cynical community is a corrupt community.

Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants.

True happiness involves the full use of one's power and talents.

Some people strengthen the society just by being the kind of people they are.

History never looks like history when you are living through it. It always looks confusing and messy, and it always feels uncomfortable.

The cynic says, "One man can't do anything". I say, "Only one man can do anything."

If you have some respect for people as they are, you can be more effective in helping them to become better than they are.

There is enough knowledge in the books to explain the existing, your knowledge must inspire what is possible.

I like an interesting movie even if it's controversial or offensive, depending on your taste.

It's time to question a job or career move when it seems like most energy is devoted to making things appear other than what they really are.

If people want some guidance, I say, just look at what people really do. Don't listen to them that much.

I'm always surprised reading my old journals. There's this idea that life is hard now, but then I'll reach that moment where it'll change. But there's no summit. It's a constant climb.

I met a lot of great people in Saudi Arabia and I'd like to see them again. And I'd love to spend more time in the desert and in the mountains. I felt really at home there.

If the hill will not come to Mahomet, Mahomet will go to the hill.

Delia's arms were inscribed with a grid of self- inflicted wounds, an intricate text of self-loathing

Do you suppose she's a wildflower?

Every minute spent worrying about 'the way things were' is a moment stolen from creating 'the way things can be'