The greatness of America has grown out of a political and social system and a method of control of economic forces distinctly its own - our American system.

Freedom is the open window through which pours the sunlight of the human spirit and human dignity.

Blessed are the young for they shall inherit the national debt.

Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.

It is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech. Immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.

My country owes me nothing. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, opportunity for service and honor.

Peace is not made at the council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men.

Being a politician is a poor profession. Being a public servant is a noble one.

All men are equal before fish.

To the engineer falls the job of clothing the bare bones of science with life, comfort, and hope.

Absolute freedom of the press to discuss public questions is a foundation stone of American liberty.

The investment you make in others is transferred to everyone they influence long after you’re gone. Significance

I like the silent church before the service begins, better than any preaching.

I believe in the forgiveness of sin and the redemption of ignorance.

To write a poem you must have a streak of arrogance-- not in real life I hope. In real life try to be nice. It will save you a hell of a lot of trouble and give you more time to write.

There have always been great defenses of poetry, and I've tried to write mine, and I think all of my work and criticism is a defense of poetry to try and keep something alive in poetry.

My goodness, that wee ball's gone so high there'll be snow on it when it comes down.

You can maybe be artistic and really original and creative, but as long as it's got that funniness at the root of it, then certain people are going to love it just because they need a laugh.

I love variation in all forms: in painting, in music.

I'm the least-educated person in my immediate family. My two other brothers have multiple advanced degrees, and I only have one. [...] Actually, now that I've got a Nobel Prize, I feel equal.

What makes me feel good is that after all these years, the ideas that Joe Perry came up with worked and all the kids loved it.