In the rush for justice it is important not to lose sight of principles the country holds dear.

Circumstances do not make the man, they reveal him.

The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.

To be rooted is perhaps the most important and least recognized need of the human soul.

There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the Free Public Library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.

To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.

God creates, I do not create. I assemble and I steal everywhere to do it - from what I see, from what the dancers can do, from what others do.

In terms of an identity, an identity reflects an individuality, by definition. And, if there is a quality present, it is recognizable and it can be named. If you can't name it, it means you don't recognize it.

Thought is free.

Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.

The poor are prevented from thinking by the discipline of others, the rich by their own.

Purity of heart is to will one thing.

I can bear any pain as long as it has meaning.

I apologize for lying to you. I promise I won't deceive you except in matters of this sort.

Give up trying to make me give up

A lie never lives to be old.

Memory... is an internal rumour.

If you talk bad about country music, it's like saying bad things about my momma. Them's fightin' words.