I don't want to just see someone's face; I want to know his shadow, too. —Jude

He's so busy looking inside people to find the good that he misses the knife they're holding in their hand.

I bet it gets pretty lonely with only your ego for company.

The thing that scares me is that some part of me understands where they're coming from. They took everything from us, you know? Why shouldn’t we be able to take it back if we have the power to?

If you're going to knock down my suggestion, you'd better have one to replace it.

And people like you are the reason we have middle fingers.

I used to dream about turning back time, about reclaiming the things I'd lost and the person I used to be.

He's just like a stallion. Wild and kicking on the outside, but a heart soft as satin on the inside. Just waiting for the right girl to break him in.

You get a good review, and it’s like crack. You need another hit. And another. And another. I know authors are like Tinkerbell and generally need applause to survive, but it’s a slippery slope.

—I don't want to lose you —Then why are you the one that keeps letting go?

The darkest minds never fade in the afterlight.

You get more reach and influence when you are being productive

Nothing's going to change if you're just thinking about it. No matter how much you worry about someone else's problems.... you can't fix it for them.

I'd say I'm a revolutionary optimist. I believe that the good guys -the people- are going to win.

The main focus for me is not trying to find duet partners. It's about just making great songs. I want most of my album to be in my voice, because it's my point of view.

You can't really have like high end designers for everything.

It is hard for a woman with whom an uncircumcised man has had sexual intercourse to separate from him. In my opinion this is the strongest of the reasons for circumcision.

Ethiopia did not have the same problem [of corruption]. African leaders looked at us with envy.

Many plays - certainly mine - are like blank checks. The actors and directors put their own signatures on them.

There is no distress so complete but that even in the most critical moments the inexplicable sunrise of hope is seen in its depths.

The happiest youth, viewing his progress through, What perils past, what crosses to ensue, Would shut the book, and sit him down and die.