For me, conferences are like little mental vacations: a chance to go visit an interesting place for a couple of days, and come back rested and refreshed with new ideas and perspectives.

People say to me, ‘How do I know if a word is real?’ You know, anybody who’s read a children’s book knows that love makes things real. If you love a word, use it. That makes it real.

By the time the traditionally male lexicographers become interested in looking at fashion words, their origins are lost in the mists of time.

Lexicographers are language reporters.

Aging has been bad ever since we figured out it led to dying.

Serendipity is when you find things you weren't looking for because finding what you are looking for is so damned difficult.

Experiences is just paying attention as time passes.

I also think people should never turn down an opportunity to hold a baby. There's something about the feeling of a new baby in your arms that just fixes you.

Language is a nice way to remember things.

All language is a popularity contest.

You can weaponize nice... Being nice can make you be a little underestimated.

Whoever hates, harm.

Some golfers fantasize about playing in a foursome with Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Sam Snead. The way I hit I'd rather play in a foursome with Helen Keller, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder.

Surprise yourself every day with your own courage.

Don't just do something, be there.

I like crazy people, especially those who don't see the risk.

Life's a choice: you can live in black and white, or you can live in colour. I'll take every shade of the rainbow and the gazillion in between!

Bliss becomes blissful with practice. In our own bliss the desire, desirer and process of desiring are united - they are one. Desire is fulfilled at its source.

Speak not nor act before thou hast reflected.

Those who do not have faith in others will not be able to stand on their own.

I've never been able to learn from other people's mistakes - I'm not that smart - so I usually learn by trial by fire.