Ours is a government of checks and balances. The Mafia and crooked businessmen make out checks, and the politicians and other compromised officials improve their bank balances.

Asthma doesn't seem to bother me any more unless I'm around cigars or dogs. The thing that would bother me most would be a dog smoking a cigar.

One of the nice things about problems is that a good many of them do not exist except in our imaginations.

One social evil for which the New Testament is clearly in part responsible is anti-Semitism.

Thousands of years ago only Christ could walk on the water. Today anybody can do it; you just step on the garbage.

Totalitarianism is patriotism institutionalized.

In a rational society we would want our presidents to be teachers. In our actual society we insist they be cheerleaders.

Radio is the theater of the mind; television is the theater of the mindless.

Ideas have consequences, and totally erroneous ideas are likely to have destructive consequences.

If the Old Testament were a reliable guide in the matter of capital punishment, half the people in the United States would have to be killed tomorrow.

Millions of Germans had absolute faith in Hitler. Millions of Russians had faith in Stalin. Millions of Chinese had faith in Mao. Billions have had faith in imaginary gods.

Immeasurably, baby. I love you immeasurably.

I need you more than I need the sunshine.

But some people, and especially very young people, don’t think anything’s worth believing unless it’s hard to believe.

Regardless of our age, experience, or station in life, we are all missionaries.

There is something in us, as storytellers and as listeners to stories, that demands the redemptive act, that demands that what falls at least be offered the chance to be restored.

He raised his hand in a peaceful gesture. "You need to relax a bit, dove. Like Mouse over there. You trust me, don't you, Mouse?" "Nope!" "Ahhh, I'm hurt. Nobody likes me.

Gardening is the instrument of grace.

The Founding Fathers would be sorry to see that America had become so divided and factionalized.

I like most kinds of music. So I haven't got a bag, as they say... except the big black one in the hall outside.

Full of hopes beyond their power though not beyond their ambition.