The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.

The formula of happiness and success is just, being actually yourself, in the most vivid possible way you can.

What makes you different or weird, that's your strength.

The minute you start caring about what other people think, is the minute you stop being yourself.

It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician.

It's amazing what you can get if you quietly, clearly and authoritatively demand it.

I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and confidently themselves, who bring light into the world.

You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you've lost a lot of people, you realize each day is a gift.

Everything we say signifies; everything counts, that we put out into the world. It impacts on kids, it impacts on the zeitgeist of the time.

That is the simple secret. Always take your heart to work.

As there begins to be less time ahead of you, you want to be exactly who you are, without making it easier for everyone else.

Indeed, we should be trying to reach out to those who don’t know Jesus Christ, which is impossible in an atmosphere of hostility.

Nothing in your world is going to change unless you change. Because even if something changes you won't recognize it. You will still perceive it with an unchanged and out-dated vision.

By improving health, empowering women, population growth comes down.

When my younger sisters were born, I was in high school and college. I was at my mom's all the time but never changed them or fed them.

I still love recording and still love the stage, but like my dad, I have the most fun when I am in front of that glorious orchestra or that kick-butt big band.

I cannot afford to make mistakes.

Strength is built by one's failures, not by one's successes.

There is only one way under high heaven to get anybody to do anything. Did you ever stop to think of that? Yes, just one way. And that is by making the other person want to do it.

Never test for an error condition you don't know how to handle.

I don't deserve a Songwriters Hall of Fame Award. But fifteen years ago, I had a brain operation and I didn't deserve that, either. So I'll keep it.