Perspective is a kind of mental sunblock that, provided we apply it properly, prevents us from getting burned by past mistakes.

Book love is something like romantic love. When we are reading a really great book, burdens feel lighter, cares seem smaller.

Plan to the extent that feels right to you at a particular time in your life, but always be open to serendipity.

A library is a fueling station for your mind.

Mankind, not womankind, has slaughtered more humans in the name of God and Religion than for any other reason.

(Politeness is) a tacit agreement that people's miserable defects whether moral or intellectual shall on either side be ignored and not be made the subject of reproach.

Life is too short not to order the bacon dessert.

I forced myself to go visit Asia four times a year.

Put not your trust in new leaders, better systems, new organisations or regulatory reorganisation. They may well be good and necessary, but will to some degree fail.

Once you get rid of integrity the rest is a piece of cake.

I've had horror movies thrown at me and I just don't want to do any because violence isn't really good for society.

The way to 'get there' is to 'be there'

What you focus on always gets better.

In prosperous times I have sometimes felt my fancy and powers of language flag, but adversity is to me at least a tonic and bracer.