The man you love cooking for you is good for you too.

A good lover will do that, see something worthwhile in you that you never knew was there. And when there's something you don't like to see in yourself a good lover won't see it either.

I wanted everything. What could you not want when you are brown and Indian-looking in a society in which the white aesthetic is praised as acceptable?

Our goal should be to achieve joy

Poverty has its advantages. When you're that poor what would you have that anyone would want? Except your peace of mind. Your dignity. Your heart. The important things.

I've spent my whole life in Chicago being asked where am I from, so that I have a sense of displacement that also is very psychologically disorienting.

I'm obviously an American citizen. My parents are American citizens. But I'm not looked at as an American.

There are things coming from me that I felt I wanted to talk about. My search for my own blend of spirituality, my acknowledgement of my sexuality, my being the single mother of a young man.

What you perceive as "liberal" is my independence to choose what i do, with whom, and when. Moreover, it also means that i may choose not to do it, with anyone, ever.

To all the women and the men who ever loved me just a little.

For things to have value in man's world, they are given the role of commodities. Among man's oldest and most constant commodity is woman.

It's in my blood, as magic is in yours." His mouth is still smiling, but his tone is somber. "I couldn't stop writing even if I wanted to.

MANAGE YOUR MOOD: Name 1 thing that surprised you today...Name 1 thing that moved you...Name 1 thing that inspired you...

And the danger is that in this move toward new horizons and far directions, that I may lose what I have now, and not find anything except loneliness.

Our nature is the mind. And the mind is our nature.

A stick or a stone only stings for a minute. A name seems to hurt forever.

We are here to laugh at the odds.

Some songs, some nights won't do anything for you, but people enjoy them and that's the job. The magic is finding those places to stand in the song and gain perspective.

Is a diamond less valuable because it is covered with mud? God sees the changeless beauty of our souls. He knows we are not our mistakes.

Communism is one of the options that can improve people's lives.

Lighting one candle from another - Winter night