You give up your childhood. You miss proms and games and high-school events, and people say it's awful... I say it was a good trade. You miss something but I think I gained more than I lost.

Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.

If I had a bad performance in a particular leotard, I threw it in the trash.

Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It's our goal in life to find it and keep it.

Working hard becomes a habit, a serious kind of fun. You get self-satisfaction from pushing your self to the limit, knowing that all the effort is going to pay off.

Rather then focusing on the obstacle in your path, focus on the bridge over the obstacle.

A trophy carries dust. Memories last forever.

As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can: by making the best choices, by making the most of the talents we've been given.

Erase the word "failure" from your vocabulary. No case is ever truly closed, and no challenge is ever over.

Even though it may seem counterintuitive, a comfort zone is a dangerous place to be.

As much time as you put into it, that's what your achievements are going to be when you come out of it.

Freedom is the choice to be free than to be a slave.

I WISH YOU ALL THE REALITY YOU COULD EVER WANT. HANDLE. WANT.

I always have a funny story at communion time that underscores that no one is perfect, and that communion is not for perfect people but for hungry people.

There are three essential factors in all human activity: spirit, materials, and action.

But there can be no secrets in a house where there are children.

The only way to get out of mediocrity is to keep shooting for excellence.

It is my huge pleasure that my novels are translated into languages that are read among small numbers of people.

It's important for me to live up to my reputation.

If one avoids haughtiness to the utmost extent and is exceedingly humble, he is termed a saint, and this is the standard of saintliness.

The people I used to have around me from Nashville was showing love to the Cash Money clique on the strength of Buck trying to make it; making sure Buck gets to where he gots to go.