Way down deep the American people are afraid of an entangling relationship between formal religions - or whole bodies of religious belief - and government.

People expect Byzantine, Machiavellian logic from politicians. But the truth is simple. Trial lawyers learn a good rule: 'Don't decide what you don't have to decide.' That's not evasion, it's wisdom.

You want calamities? What about the Ice Age? God made this world, but didn't complete it.

There are only two rules for being successful. One, figure out exactly what you want to do, and two, do it.

For me to make lasagna would be a desecration of a great Italian dish. . . . I don't mess with sacred things.

The Republicans believe that the wagon train will not make it to the frontier unless some of the old, some of the young, some of the weak are left behind.

There are few things more amusing in the world of politics than watching moderate Republicans charging to the right in pursuit of greater glory.

The mugger who is arrested is back on the street before the police officer, but the person mugged may not be back on the street for a long time, if ever.

I talk and talk and talk, and I haven't taught people in 50 years what my father taught by example in one week.

Every time I've done something that doesn't feel right, it's ended up not being right.

The American people need no course in philosophy or political science or church history to know that God should not be made into a celestial party chairman.

Money is a great servant but a bad master.

Hate is the consequence of fear we fear something before we hate it a child who fears noises becomes a man who hates noise.

Don't minimize the importance of luck in determining life's course.

Skipping school isn't a crime. It's an infraction. They're totally different.

You could have a kid that is going to get in trouble a little bit, and you can teach them as much as you can, and hopefully they'll go the right way.

I don't live in the past.

Creativity is the answer. I always prefer the creative solution to an expensive solution.

My parents were divorced and I didn't grow up with my father, but I spent a lot of time around him, and his influence on me has been profound.

Adaptation of books is never a success. When the author wants to make it, it's even worse.

Historians are dangerous and capable of turning everything upside down. They have to be watched.