And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

We make up horrors to help us cope with the real ones.

Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.

Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.

To conceal anything from those to whom I am attached, is not in my nature. I can never close my lips where I have opened my heart.

All my life through, the new sights of nature made me rejoice like a child.

To forgive is not just to be altruistic.

The gentleman understands rightousness, the petty man understands interest.

Old age, especially an honoured old age, has so great authority, that this is of more value than all the pleasures of youth.

A tragedy means always a man's struggle with that which is stronger than man.

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else's draft.

If I'm honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all.

Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes farthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare.

I used to live in a room full of mirrors; all I could see was me. I take my spirit and I crash my mirrors, now the whole world is here for me to see.

Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create.

The more you live in the present moment, the more the fear of death disappears.

One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.

Boys will be boys. And even that wouldn't matter if only we could prevent girls from being girls.