Demosthenes, when taunted by Pytheas that all his arguments "smelled of the lamp," replied, "Yes, but your lamp and mine, my friend, do not witness the same labours.

I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.

The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.

An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.

When Demosthenes was asked what was the first part of Oratory, he answered, "Action," and which was the second, he replied, "action," and which was the third, he still answered "Action.

Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.

The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.

Barba non facit philosophum

To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.

Time is the wisest of all counselors.

No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.

Forget living a long life cause I don't see that happening with me living a life of misery, neglect, and pain. So I just want to die happy.

If Beyoncé Knowles and Miley Cyrus represent the latest branch of feminism, then surely the male-dominated power elite must be aroused with concern.

The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.

Skills are called hidden treasure as they save like a mother in a foreign country.

I guess it's nice to have someone to love while you're looking for someone to love.

to be sure, marriage is all in all with the ladies; but with us gentlemen it's quite another thing!

The children's book world has given me wonderful friendships and an unbelievably rich life.

Every generation blames the generation before them.

While I had cancer, I wrote these twenty-two personal essays about how I lived my life backed by Zen and writing.

As an artist your trajectory just has to keep going up. the thing that subverts your next body of work is the work you've taken before.