[...] the only folks who kill black folks any more are black folks. [...] black folks kill more black folks than the KKK ever did.

If you have a deep-seated need to be loved and admired every day, you shouldn't be in politics. You should go work at a pet store.

Take your patience pill ...You can be joyous, but you can't be a jackass.

We need to ban assault weapons. We need to ban the high-capacity clips and magazines. We need serious background information, system upgrade.

Politics in Philadelphia is a contact sport.

I didn't run for mayor to be the caretaker of the status quo.

Philadelphia, the foundation of freedom, liberty and democracy, I still believe in the idea of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Whether it's on the streets of Philadelphia or New York or Chicago or Atlanta or in a classroom in Newtown, Connecticut, people want to be safe.

There is no reason for a civilian to have an automatic weapon.

Everyone felt comfortable with these guys and what their vision was, and when they said they want to keep the staff intact, that was very encouraging.

I'm a big supporter of the Second Amendment. But I think I have a First Amendment right not to be shot.

You have to believe. Otherwise, it will never happen.

Being cool is being your own self, not doing something that someone else is telling you to do.

One good thing about leaving daily journalism was that I was no longer obliged to read all the book prize short lists.

Everyone to me has to pick a subject to talk about in music if you're going to be a writer.

You need to be, like, turning down high-paying illustration work because you want to work on your comic. That's when you know you're doing something good.

The most important thing is to believe in yourself and know that you can do it.

Civilized society is one huge bourgeoisie: no nobleman dares now shock his greengrocer.

When one man, for whatever reason, has the opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.

I would have voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The brain abhors discrepancies.