Skating was something I really wanted to do; my parents knew nothing about it. They said they'd support me as long as I was trying my hardest and enjoying it.

I don't know how many people really knew who I was before the Olympics and that's the fun thing of the Olympics - you get to know someone who captures your heart, hopefully.

Every day, someone realizes a dream. I believe dreams help light our darkness and give us the push we need to move across the rink of life.

I'd try to channel my nervous energy in a positive way into strength and endurance. It didn't always work.

At 6 years old, the ice became a place for me to express myself. Because I was so shy off the ice, it became my safe haven, with music and freedom and self-expression. That was my emotional outlet.

I'm always looking for inspiring ways to stay motivated and stay active.

Once you have a child, your heart is forever outside your body. I totally understand that now.

Being an athlete, you know how to train and prepare your body for a performance and you're able to do it under pressure.

I never wanted to feel I hadn't worked hard enough.

As a teenager especially, I just wanted to do my thing and not be noticed.

I feel like I missed out on the regular high school social life, but that's the way I chose to be.

It wouldn't be mind control, if you will know you've been under mind control.

In Germany democracy died by the headman's axe. In Britain it can be by pernicious anaemia.

Be a practical dreamer backed by action.

I had an uncle who had a car with a rumble seat, and I used to love to ride in that thing. I mentioned this to some kids, and they were like, "What are you even talking about?"

Ivory may not be so white as snow, but the whole Arctic continent does not make ivory black.

Circles, like the soul, are neverending and turn round and round without a stop.

Divorce has been very, very good to me.

Historically in every recovery, because the president rightly did inherit a recession. But historically, the lagging indicator always deals with employment.

They're called Virgin Trains because they don't go all the way.

Our biggest problem as human beings is not knowing that we don't know.