I always liked the magic of poetry but now I'm just starting to see behind the curtain of even the best poets, how they've used, tried and tested craft to create the illusion. Wonderful feeling of exhilaration to finally be there.

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look into the reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet if we have problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and arguments. That is my experience. No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.

Thich Nhat Hanh

No oppression is so heavy or lasting as that which is inflicted by the perversion and exorbitance of legal authority.

Samuel Johnson

Their silence is praise enough.

Terence

I don't think you get to good writing unless you expose yourself and your feelings. Deep songs don't come from the surface they come from the deep down. The poetry and the songs that you are suppose to write, I believe are in your heart.

Judy Collins

Anybody with a sense of humor is going to put on my album and laugh from beginning to end.

Eminem

The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser men so full of doubts.

Bertrand Russell

Any idea, plan, or purpose may be placed in the mind through repetition of thought.

Napoleon Hill

If you have no critics you'll likely have no success.

Malcolm X

You just have to find that thing that's special about you that distinguishes you from all the others, and through true talent, hard work, and passion, anything can happen.

Dr. Dre

While gazing at myself from yourself, I was beautiful.

Dejan Stojanovic

When you determined what you want, you have made the most important decision of your life. You have to know what you want in order to attain it.

Douglas Lurtan

I have a great advantage over many of my colleagues inasmuch as my students bring with them to class their own personal knowledge of national, regional, religious, ethnic, occupational, and family folklore traditions.

Alan Dundes