When I write, I try to represent the ordinary person in the pew, which means that, ironically, I'm qualified to write about prayer by being unqualified!

In general I love to eat anything. I enjoy anything that is well prepared, a good spaghetti, lasagna, taco, steak, sushi, refried beans.

I have a lot of cooking tools. In fact I have a whole drawer full of knives. Cooking tools, especially cutlery, are my toys.

Chinese culture has a lot of virtues that are tremendously valuable to not only us as Asian-Americans, but also the world in general.

People who don't travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what's in front of them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they live.

Why is America such a great country. It is because we stand united.

Possibly because I've lived so much of my life in difficult circumstances, I think I have a more profound understanding of life.

So when I do Chinese cooking, I mix everything together, then the kids have to eat their vegetables. They won't have the patience to pick them out.

I am also well aware that literature only has a minimal influence on political disputes or economic crises in the world, but its significance to human beings is ancient.

You can do almost anything with soup stock, it's like a strong foundation. When you have the right foundation, everything tastes good.

For a country boy, poor as I was, whose constant worry was to be able to have enough to eat, the Army guaranteed one's survival.

At what point do they believe what's been branded on their skin instead of just knowing who they are on the inside.

It is a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.

I've never been a blind romantic.

I did not enjoy Cambridge. But I shouldn't blame Cambridge alone. I wasn't ready for university or for the wrench of leaving home. It was a big cultural shock.

It is within the experience of everyone that when pleasure and pain reach a certain intensity they are indistinguishable.

my pleasure was in the strength of my back, in my noble shoulders, the cool smooth flesh cylinders of my arms.

Throughout your life, your inner landscape presents its contents to you again and again. When you are aware of all its elements, you are in continual communication with your soul.

Each of us will figure out our own way.

The payroll tax increase was destructive financially, it took what was a close call and made it a bad call.

Secrecy is the enemy of efficiency, but don't let anyone know it.