my uncle ... had the misfortune to be ever touched in his brain, and, as a convincing proof, married his maid, at an age when he and she both had more occasion for a nurse than a parson.

Power, when invested in the hands of knaves or fools, generally is the source of tyranny.

But, alas! Misfortunes are too apt to wear out Friendship.

With age comes acumen. With experience comes insight.

All of our relationships and our interactions, the life affirming ones and the challenging ones, show us how far we have come and where we still need to go.

the instant he knew he loved her, she slipped down his body and out of his arms

My stuff always starts with interviews. I start interviewing people, and then slowly but surely, a movie insinuates itself.

Music can be soothing or invigorating ennobling or vulgarizing, philosophical or orgiastic. It has powers of evil as well as for good.

Joining Modest Mouse was just consistent with what I used to do as a teenager: I followed where I thought I would make some interesting music.

Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of charity and piety, and neither will excuse us from the other.

I was a pretty good soccer player, but it just wasn't for me. I thrive in the intensified atmosphere on a football field.

There is a largely-ignored healthcare calamity in the United States that sees between two and three women die every day during pregnancy and childbirth.

I don't have confidence in my instincts, and I feel like I have to go through a very right-brain and left-brain process.