[from a reader] Whenever I feel myself resenting someone, I reach out. I have made good friends that way.

Unsolicited advice is always self-serving.

People don't change when they don't acknowledge their actions.

Climb aboard life's elevator, hit the "up" button, and see where it takes you.

Sometimes the way through someone's tough outer shell is to do something obvious, thoughtful and sweet.

This is a tough situation. But it is what it is, and time has an amazing way of knitting together solutions as long as everybody stays calm and resolves to be as gentle and patient as possible.

Bullies never want to acknowledge their own actions. They want to move through life without reflection or apology.

Ask 10 people about their family relationships and at least five of them will report an estrangement.

When you are criticizing someone, you should speak only to your own experience - not others'.

Bullies often act out by marshaling aggression to cover up for insecurity.

When the choice is between a demanding relationship and a vintage pickup truck, I'll choose the truck every time.

You know what's just as powerful as a good cup of coffee in the morning? Starting your day with some good, loving thoughts. It can change how your whole day unfolds.

Love had always issued out of the places that hurt the most.

The only fear that builds character, is the fear of God.

We're comfortable with women in certain roles but not comfortable with women expressing anger or fully accepting their power. The most daring question a woman can ask is, 'What do I want?'

You aren't just voting for the president. So many issues that affect your everyday life are decided locally on that ballot as well. So go get that god damn sticker. Your country needs you.

Don't try to use what you learn from Buddhism to be a Buddhist; use it to be a better whatever-you-al ready-are.

I've never really gotten into the whole labels thing. There were times I would cover a pop song, and people would say 'You sound really country.' I gave up on that whole thing a long time ago.

I do have a small collection of traditional SF ideas which I've never been able to sell. I'm known as a fantasy writer and neither my agent nor my editors want to risk my brand by jumping genre.

God doesn't require us to succeed, he only requires that you try.

We wanted guys who had been productive in college, and we made it a point to pick performance over potential.