Some people like to focus on other aspects of my life, but first and foremost I am a dedicated and top swimmer.

I protect my skin with sunscreen and am religious about keeping my face moisturized and properly protected all day, so I also use a face lotion with SPF 30.

I concentrate on preparing to swim my race and let the other swimmers think about me, not me about them.

Sometimes success is simply being willing to give it your all.

Breaking composure, confidence, and speed in the water makes you lose the race, not the goggles that fell off your head when you dove in.

In swimming, everyone calls me grandma, because I'm the oldest there. Then with my friends, I'm the youngest and I'm the baby. It's definitely bizarre.

To look good in the water you have to pick the right swimsuit. I own close to 500.

If you want me to swim fast, you have to let me enjoy my life.

I don't underestimate the power of mental preparation throughout all of my training. I'm in a much better state of mind about competition.

Malfunctions are inevitable. It's important to push through them during practice - versus stopping to fix and restart - so that you're prepared for one mid-competition.

People wanted to be friends with me for not the right reasons. They'd introduce me to somebody else as the Olympian or the swimmer. I didn't want to stand out. I wanted to blend in.

He wastes his time over his writing, trying to accomplish what geniuses and rare men with college educations sometimes accomplish.

Never take a solemn oath. People think you mean it.

I thought I was clever enough to write as well as these people and I didn't realize that there is something called originality and your own voice.

In the meantime [1965-67], [Bob] Dylan was again writing some of the best love songs in the genre, like "Visions of Johanna," "Just Like a Woman," and "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands."

I'm in the mood for love, simply because you're near me. Funny, but when you're near me I'm in the mood for love.

So then you’re free?’ ‘Yes, I’m free,’ said Karl, and nothing seemed more worthless than his freedom.

Liberty is the power that we have over ourselves.

To this day, I still would choose the angst over something easier, when I really don't have to.

(Acting) is an extension of life. How you're capable of performing in your life, that's how you're capable of performing on screen.

It seems like the first law of Nature is that everybody likes to receive things, but nobody likes to feel grateful.