Without law in some form, and, also, without butting up against that law, we cannot move forward easily or naturally. We have to have something hard and half-good to rebel against.

every time God forgives us, God is saying that God's own rules do not matter as much as the relationship that God wants to create with us.

The cross solved our problem by first revealing our real problem, our universal pattern of scapegoating and sacrificing others. The cross exposes forever the scene of our crime.

When we fail we are merely joining the great parade of humanity that has walked ahead of us and will follow after us.

Those who are not true leaders will just affirm people at their own immature level.

The ego hates losing – even to God.

People who know how to creatively break the rules also know why the rules were there in the first place.

Much of the work of midlife is to tell the difference between those who are dealing with their issues through you and those who are really dealing with you.

Denial of our pattern of failure seems to be a kind of practical atheism or chosen ignorance among many believers and clergy.

I have prayed for years for one good humiliation a day, and then, I must watch my reaction to it. I have no other way of spotting both my denied shadow self and my idealized persona.

Sin happens whenever we refuse to keep growing.

Wise are those who learn that the bottom line doesn't always have to be their top priority.

Look, all this is about is utilizing the rules of the Senate, using a majority of the senators, to make sure that we get health reform done. We cannot wait another day.

Is not Justice just a nice way to say revenge.

During every really creative act, the artist finds himself homeless. To overcome this state he has to call up his last reserves of strength.

Could you imagine the way I felt, I couldn't unfasten her safety belt. All the way home I held a grudge, for the safety belt that wouldn't budge.

I'm very attracted to the great open spaces of the West.

If Bob Dylan really is an historian in and of himself in his work, in his performances, he is also an historian with a unique sense of humor. There's always been a bit of a stand-up comic in him.

Average, middle-class people, the people of Macomb County, couldn't afford health care. Now they can [with Obamacare].

We all have our limitations, but when we listen to our critics, we also have theirs.

Is it possible that nobody has ever known that there never has been a completely civilized man, and won't be for another thousand years?