If you give someone more than they can do, they will do it. If you give them only what they can do, they will do nothing.

Beware of overconcern for money, or position, or glory. Someday you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.

I keep six honest serving men (they taught me all i knew); Theirs names are What and Why and When And How And Where and Who.

A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition

Of all the liars in the world, sometimes the worst are our own fears.

This is a brief life, but in its brevity it offers us some splendid moments, some meaningful adventures.

If you can keep your wits about you while all others are losing theirs, and blaming you. The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son.

I am by nature a dealer in words, and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity.

The silliest woman can manage a clever man; but it needs a very clever woman to manage a fool.

There is no sin so great as ignorance. Remember this.

Never look backwards or you'll fall down the stairs.

And i chose life and love and happiness and pain...

The are things that you might forget, but you might not clearly forget. Time is the only coin you have to buy the things you want to remember, and to pay for the things you want to leave behind.

Every man has three characters - that which he exhibits that which he has and that which he thinks he has.

In my head, I wanted to be Madonna, but the music I was writing on paper was not what you'd choreograph dancers in costumes to. It was more coffee-house stuff.

In the 1970′s I made horses out of real mud and sticks. They were, in part, meant to reflect how much a horse is part of his environment. I combined the figure and the ground.

Everybody uses pop culture as a shorthand.

I do my best to write my way through it. It helps the laughing, reflective part come quicker.

The Peace Corps is guilty of enthusiasm and a crusading spirit. But we're not apologetic about it.

I think all humans are essentially proud and I certainly am.

I have known sorrow and learned to aid the wretched.