Poverty treads close upon the heels of great and unexpected wealth.

The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy.

Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future.

It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit.

Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way.

The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or Marc Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marc Aurelius.

To lose one's self in reverie, one must be either very happy, or very unhappy. Reverie is the child of extremes.

Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.

The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it.

The modest man has everything to gain, and the arrogant man everything to lose; for modesty has always to deal with generosity, and arrogance with envy.

Opinions, theories, and systems pass by turns over the grindstone of time, which at first gives them brilliancy and sharpness, but finally wears them out.

While the heart beats, hope lingers.

This isn't champagne anymore. We went through the champagne a long time ago. This is serious stuff. The days of champagne are long gone.

Every concept should have a beginning, middle and end.

Justice of right is always to take precedence over might.

I was home-schooled for my entire high school experience, so I never went to prom.

The woman named Tomorrow sits with a hairpin in her teeth and takes her time

I don't have any structured grand plan; I just intend to keep writing about the things that interest me-some of which change, some of which don't.

In these days of widespread illiteracy, functional illiteracy... anything that keeps people stupid is a felony.

Musicians coming together at a time of need is one of the great traditions in this country. It's like people taking charge.

I am coming back to that which has most affected me. I'm coming back to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.