Yeah, that's funny, huh?...Something hurts you real bad and you get used to it. Like being hurt becomes part of who you are.

Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity. What is the message when some children are not represented in those books?

When I began to read, I began to exist

Cutting people out of your life is easy, keeping them in is hard.

We need to tell young people that America was built by men and women of all colors and that the future of this country is dependent on the participation of all of our citizens.

Reading is not optional.

I'll never live to write all the stories I have in my head.

We need to tell kids flat out: reading is not optional.

Think about all the tomorrows of your life.

We all know we should eat right and we should exercise, but reading is treated as if it's this wonderful adjunct.

It's a hard life sometimes and the biggest temptation is to let how hard it is be an excuse to weaken

Does anyone know how to start a fire?"Blank stares. "So we can't start a fire, " [Jamie] said. "We can't fly. We can't create a force field. We are the most bullshit superheroes.

Perfect freedom is as necessary to the health and vigor of commerce as it is to the health and vigor of citizenship.

Every year, thousands of Californians flee that populous paradise for tax-eased small government oasis of America's red states.

He didn't seem to realize that three excuses was as good as no excuse.

Sometimes plans don't translate smoothly from paper to real life.

I have a very sensitive nose. I identify with dogs. I understand the world through my nose.

I've had many, many loves. I always feel that something wonderful is going to happen. And it always does.

I began seeing my wife, Kathleen, while I was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

If there's a good side of Islam, at the end of the day it serves evil.

My idea of what God should be is a good guy. I don't think there's any good in killing people in the name of your God.