The classical music is soothing and stimulating, good for thinking.

I love Topsail Island, which my grandparents helped settle in 1950, despite the racial tensions. I wanted to immortalize my deep connection to this special island forever.

My pets are very supportive, as they curl up in their beds underneath my desk.

When I get stuck, I take a long walk outside or go to a movie. I get out of my own way so I can hear the quiet voices that hold all of the answers that connect the dots.

In my spare time, I paint, garden, hike and enjoy massages for my weary writer's back.

It is far easier to see brave men die than to hear a coward beg for life.

As a politician he does everything to keep out of trouble often by not asking questions. However it does bother him that every time the doorbell rings his maid hides in the dryer.

What can I know? What ought I to do? What can I hope?

Selling MP3s or physical copies, it's still cool, but I think it's slowly becoming outdated to where people just want to build a culture.

The growth of medical expenditures in the U.S. is not caused by administrative costs but by increases in the technical intensity of care over time - a.k.a. medical progress.

Badness cannot succeed even in being bad in the same way in which goodness is good. Goodness is, so to speak, itself: badness is only spoiled goodness. Evil is a parasite, not an original thing.

Propaganda is the art of persuading others of what you don't believe yourself.

There's no one way to dance. And that's kind of my philosophy about everything.

You are unique, and this is a beautiful, beautiful thing, grasshopper.

The conception, composition, practice, and performance of a piece of music can blossom in a single moment.