To me he seemed one of those persons destined to failure of whom you wonder what purpose it can ever serve that they should have ben born.

Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.

We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person.

To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.

It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.

If a nation values anything more than freedom, it will lose its freedom; and the irony of it is that if it is comfort or money that it values more, it will lose that too.

The secret to life is meaningless unless you discover it yourself.

The only important thing in a book is the meaning that it has for you.

It is dangerous to let the public behind the scenes. They are easily disillusioned and then they are angry with you, for it was the illusion they loved.

The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant and kind.

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young.

Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile ... initially scared me to death.

Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence.

Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.

I have been quoted saying that, in the future, all companies will be Internet companies. I still believe that. More than ever, really

The artists of the past who impressed me were the ones who really focused their work.

I paint for myself. I don't know how to do anything else, anyway. Also I have to earn my living, and occupy myself.

I was raised in Washington, DC, very violent place. I grew up with violence. My introduction to music was violent. The years I've spent on tours, some of that was extremely violent.

Dude, are my eyes seeing what my brain is telling my eyes that they're seeing?

Isn't that the greatest gift in the world-just not to care?

If a ballet dancer falls over, it's knowing how to get out looking clumsy that counts.