As an artist I have an even more abiding interest in the compact between the Arts and Government.

No heirloom of humankind captures the past as do art and language.

Epistemology is the study of knowledge. By what conduit do we know what we know?

I am determined to give the Yiddish language a fighting chance to survive.

I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation.

By showing hunger, deprivation, starvation and brutality, as well as endurance and nobility, documentaries inform, prod our memories, even stir us to action. Such films do battle for our very soul.

I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words.

All too often arrogance accompanies strength, and we must never assume that justice is on the side of the strong. The use of power must always be accompanied by moral choice.

But there is a difference here: When Jewish children are murdered, Arabs celebrate the deed. The death of an Arab child is no cause for celebration in Israel.

No doubt unity is something to be desired, to be striven for, but it cannot be willed into being by mere declarations.

After the advent of the written word, the masses who could not - or were not permitted to - read, were given sermons by the few who could.

Is this a kissing book?

I live in a house with four women. Just shut up and say, Yes, ma'am.

I cannot imagine any crime worse than taking a life, can you? -It'd depend whose life.

Even the most painstaking history is a bridge across an eternal mystery.

It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for - the whole thing - rather than just one or two stars.

If you meditate deeply several times a day you will transform and change. You will find that you don't have to inspire yourself to do what is right because you have become what is right.

I admire writers who can remain objective and distanced, but that doesn't seem to be in my toolbox, somehow.

I get about five memoirs per week in my mailbox, and few of them inspire anything but a desire to pick up the channel changer.

Unfortunately, these past few years, you can work hard, try to be as successful as possible, follow the rules, and President Barack Obama will do everything he can to stand in your way.

Those of us lucky enough to have a share of privilege in the more free societies should not be asking this question, but doing something to answer it.