Presidents and other politicians manage the appearance of things, largely by manipulating the air and hope.

A century is about events. A decade is about people.

Building a naval power takes generations, not so much to develop the necessary technology as to pass along the accumulated experience that creates good admirals.

Wars are times of intense technological transformation, because societies invest – sometimes with extensive borrowing – when and where matters of life and death are at stake.

Long-term solutions are more attractive and cause much less controversy than short-term solutions, which will affect people who are still alive and voting.

The worst president is closer by nature to the best then either is to anyone who has not gone through what it requires to become president.

And as we know from the pilgrimage diaries of Swami Ramdas, it is when we renounce everything that everything is given to us, in abundance. Everything: meaning the intensity of presence itself.

Are you going to cater to the whims and prejudices of people who have no intelligent knowledge of what they condemn?

When I lost you...my world darkened beyond any known shade of black, and the only light that I have seen since is you...

It's not when you realise that nothing can help you - religion, pride, anything - it's when you realise that you don't need any aid.

A gossip is one who talks to you about others a bore is one who talks to you about himself and a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.

Marriage equality changed life for people.

I never planned on being a live performer. My whole forte was about being in the studio, producing, playing the piano on recording sessions. I was all about the studio.

I've been to Nepal, but I'd like to go to Tibet. It must be a wonderful place to go. I don't think there's anything there, but it would be a nice place to visit.

We had to create an album where there wasn't one. I never listen to that album [ Music From the Edge of Heaven] because it wasn't an album.

We don't do focus groups - that is the job of the designer.