True compassion is about not bruising the other person’s self-respect.

Everybody has a heart that can be touched by something.

Normal people think we're highly dependent and can't live without ongoing support, but in fact there are times when we're stoic heroes.

When I was small, I didn't even know that I was a kid with special needs. How did I find out? By other people telling me that I was different from everyone else, and that this was a problem.

We get swallowed up by the illusion that unless we can find a place to belong, we are going to be all alone in the world.

Can you imagine how your life would be if you couldn't talk?

The thought that our lives are the source of other people's unhappiness, that's plain unbearable.

...the reason is that when we look at nature, we receive a sort of permission to be alive in this world...

During the 24/7 grind of being a carer, it's all to easy to forget the fact that the person you're doing so much for is, and is obliged to be, more resourceful than you in many respects.

autism is more like retina patterns than measles

The value of a person shouldn't be decided by the judgements of other people. Kindness brings out the best in us all.

If you stare at someone long enough, they'll eventually look back at you.

There have been men before now who got so interested in proving the existence of God that they came to care nothing for God Himself. As if the Good Lord had nothing better to do than exist!

Preoccupy your mind more and more thinking of strategies, methods of attaining possession in all areas of your life’s endeavour.

Probably in a parallel universe not far from here, I'm working for Nintendo.

The flirty old moon eased his way across the warped and sooty floorboards and kissed my bare toes, turning my feet as luminous as the skin of cinema stars.

I think I'm smart, and I know I was a good mom. But there wasn't a lot I could point to and say, that's why I'm special.

One time a French reporter asked me how I could do a cross so easily. I said, "You just lower your body down until your arms are straight out to the sides, then you stop."

Always choose style over fashion: wear something that makes you look beautiful.

It is not like every episode [of "Mary and Jane"] people are sitting around getting high.

Nothing ever gets done unless it's done by a fanatic.