Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much. Therefore they are rebellious.

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habit.

Those who are right do not argue. Those who argue are not right.

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.

One who believes in himself has no need to convince others.

He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

In order to eliminate the negative influences, simply ignore them.

Let your workings remain a mystery. Just show people the results.

The leader is a teacher who succeeds without taking credit. And, because credit is not taken, credit is received.

He was always smoothing and polishing himself, and in the end he became blunt before he was sharp.

Accents are very sexy. American girls who speak French are very attractive to a Frenchman. Anything exotic or different is attractive.

Hard work is damn near as overrated as monogamy.

Courtesy dictates that we offer fellow wizards the opportunity of denying us entry.

I would give up my life for my children, but not myself.

Much more than a 20th-century village storyteller, Cees Nooteboom stands as an impressive and inimitable voice among contemporary writers.

I can imagine many things, but few clearly.

And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.

Indeed, it is an indisputable fact that all the complex and horrendous questions confronting us at home and worldwide have their answer in that single book [the Bible].

Mexico is only a memory of childhood safety.