People in Russia adapt to misery by a deep, deep humor.

Siberia is so big, it’s almost more an idea than a place

When the days start to get shorter, I want to be in some nice brick building on the East Coast with the lights glowing in the windows. When the daylight starts changing, I want to be out West.

Every once in a while, people need to be in the presence of things that are really far away.

There's an idea of the Plains as the middle of nowhere, something to be contemptuous of. But it's really a heroic place.

Everything in Russia is made of cement - phone booths, fence posts and light bulbs.

Sometimes travel is merely an opportunity taken when you can.

Russian humor is to adapt or make some sense or nonsense out of the insanity of their lives.

I don't have a disregard for my reader in humor pieces.

I think what is important for things to be funny is if you the listener, or the reader, get a chance to supply the humor of it yourself.

Words are charms. It's like a song you didn't even know you knew.

One’s Use of Life’, if turns into worldly selfishness is called adharma (irreligion), and if it turns into spiritual selfishness (towards true self) is called dharma (religion).

We are a model country where gender equality is concerned.

I have been flooded with color on the inside, drab on the outside.

I am an old man, I just happen to be an old man that can fight.

For a while, I thought a lot about lineage. Where do I belong? Who am I standing next to?

The precept, "Know yourself," was not solely intended to obviate the pride of mankind; but likewise that we might understand our own worth.

[We] assume that social progress is like technological progress: one cannot uninvent the internal combustion engine, so how could one uninvent liberty?

The security of faith does not make us motionless or close us off, but sends us forth to bear witness and to dialogue with all people.

Republicans are completely befuddled by Obama's 'star power' and don't seem to have a clear or effective strategy to compete.

A development deal is where they're giving you recording time and money to record, but not promising that they'll put an album out.