The test of literature is, I suppose, whether we ourselves live more intensely for the reading of it.

The world is not run by thought, nor by imagination, but by opinion.

Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversations.

The torment of human frustration, whatever its immediate cause, is the knowledge that the self is in prison, its vital force and "mangled mind" leaking away in lonely, wasteful self-conflict.

Democracy, like any non-coercive relationship, rests on a shared understanding of limits.

People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs. People are very inclined to set moral standards for others.

The pain of loss, moreover, however agonizing, however haunting in memory, quiets imperceptibly into acceptance as the currents of active living and of fresh emotions flow over it.

It takes two to write a letter as much as it takes two to make a quarrel.

Money buys access; access buys influence.

[On newspapers:] A first draft of history.

The Republicans’ plan is that if they can’t buy the 2012 election they will steal it.

We have not come [here] for fame

Persecution is an enemy the Church has met and mastered many times. Indifference could prove to be a far more dangerous foe.

I'd always wanted to act, but it was a question of whether acting wanted me and whether the movies wanted me.

Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism. And for them to be able to provide nuclear technology to non-state actors, that's unacceptable.

I think everything about my life is magical. I've struggled, and against most odds, I'm truly having the experience of living my dreams.

Painting is a lot harder than pickin' cotton. Cotton's right there for you to pull off the stalk, but to paint, you got to sweat your mind.

I'm a southern girl from Arkansas and I am just tryin to do my thing in the business. To make a long story short I'm just trying to be successful at what I do and work hard.

I like to think of myself as the girl that no one can get, that no one can keep in their hand.

Usually a family is led through the mom or the dad and their career and for the family to be led by my career, even though God has led it, could be a lot of pressure.

The realest people don’t have a lot of friends.