Where life is fully and consciously lived in our own neighborhood, we are cushioned a little from the impact of great far-off events which should be of only marginal concern to us.

There are no grounds for supposing that one can live a life without pain and sadness, but is it wrong to believe that somehow, somewhere, this is possible?

Goodness often blossoms like roses on very rickety trellis-work, and beauty can grow out of nonsense.

You should never be proud of doing the right thing. You should just do it.

The modern meaning of life's end-when does it end? How does it end? How should it end? What is the value of life? How do we measure it?

And, of course, the funniest food: "kumquats". I don't even bring them home anymore. I sit there laughing and they go to waste.

For God's sake, take care of your men. If they fire, they die!

Well, I'll tell you, I don't know how aware teenagers are of me. I think it really depends on the teenager and how well-versed in music they are and what kind of music they like.

Songwriting is like ... being possessed. You try to go to sleep but the song won't let you.

Air grew heavy, damp, almost solid. I was breathing bricks.

When has a Democratic political activist been poisoned by the GOP, or vice versa? We are not the same as #Putin.

Anyone who's tried to pay a heating bill, fill a prescription, or simply buy groceries knows all too well that the current minimum wage does not cut the mustard.

Faith can reclaim deserts as well as move mountains.