We find things beautiful because we recognize them and contrariwise we find things beautiful because their novelty surprises us.

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.

I think maybe Hell is a place. But you don't have to stay anywhere forever.

I can't read fiction without visualizing every scene. The result is it becomes a series of pictures rather than a book.

To share a hiding place, physical or psychological, is as intimate as love.

I always feel that my whole life is representing the LGBT community. It's kind of what I do all the time.

Dissents are appeals to the brooding spirit of the law, to the intelligence of another day.

what we need in the world is manners ... I think that if, instead of preaching brotherly love, we preached good manners, we might get a little further. It sounds less righteous and more practical.

How we continue to fund Medicare and Medicaid into the future is a pressing issue of national concern.

I'd love to be the new Jools Holland, but you know, for, like, cooler people.

We have the best military in the world.

I am a model of positivity compared to the kinds of vitriol, the kinds of destructive criticisms that Labor members of parliament have been making of each other.