Quite simply, quite plainly, just by virtue of his being, Barack Obama is America. The first true American to lead our nation.

As a writer, as a storyteller, you have to have your emotions close, and the older I've gotten, the less I've worried about not displaying emotions.

I don't know when I made that active decision to be a writer or to try to write, but I know I always liked storytelling.

When it comes to fighting for freedom, those who are willing to fight should not be limited by our bigotry. Only rewarded with our gratitude.

Facts tend to take the punch out of a good hate rant and are therefore left best unsaid.

For every horrific event, something beautiful happens.

My kids will find me walking around the house talking to myself and think I'm going crazy. I like to read the scripts out loud and really get the rhythm for the dialogue.

There's something very special about knowing what you want to do and knowing the story you want to tell, but finding it together.

With fear of stating the obvious: Freedom belongs to 'We the People,' not 'They the Politicians.'

Whatever you do, whether you're doing a television drama or a romantic comedy, you want to be relevant, to some degree.

I think I'm an overly emotional person. I feel a lot, but I don't believe that's unique to me or that's how I am able to do the things I do.

Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country.

the death of a great man demands the birth of a great son

What we fear we often rage against.

Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.

From the time I was 16 and I had my own checking account, you'd think most young women would run out and buy clothes. No, I ran out and got myself a psychiatrist!

You look like a talent scout for a cemetery.

I am just not thinking of India's deliverance. It will come, but will it be worth if England and France fall, or if they come out victorious over Germany ruined and humbled?

Further march of civilization seems to employ increasing domination of man over beast, together with a growingly humane method of using them.

I practiced medicine up 'til now. I practice psychiatry. I shifted from different specialties. I started as a village doctor - community doctor, public health preventive medicine.

The whole history of civilization is strewn with creeds and institutions which were invaluable at first, and deadly afterwards