You could say that everything had become weirdly distorted because I'd broken the rules so many times.

When human consciousness stops fooling itself and looks at the situation straight on, it can't cope.

Happiness is a fortress.

Things aren't important, but beauty is.

The music business - and I guess you could say any artistic endeavor - usually rewards those who are on the leading edge of where everything is going, but you can't be too far.

Nothing I did contributed to me having cancer, so I can't sit back and say, 'Oh why me.' Why not me? Why does tragedy always have to hit someone else?

Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently.

We love much better those who endeavor to imitate us, than those who strive to equal us. For imitation is a sign of esteem, but competition of envy.

It feels like the city is telling secrets down here, privy only to those who think to listen.

Regrets are illuminations come too late.

[I]nstead of spending your energy attacking the parts of the president's [health care] proposal you don't like, you can use it to strengthen the parts you do.

There is nothing so revered yet so reviled as war; for even as it brings out the worst in men, it also brings out the best in them.

I don't have a problem with being black in a white country or being with my people.