To attempt the destruction of our passions is the height of folly. What a noble aim is that of the zealot who tortures himself like a madman in order to desire nothing, love nothing, feel nothing, and who, if he succeeded, would end up a complete monster!

Find enough clever things to say, and you're a Prime Minister; write them down and you're a Shakespeare.

George Bernard Shaw

When befriended, remember it; when you befriend, forget it.

Benjamin Franklin

I never really participated in specific sports or anything, but once I hit 40, I started to get a little bit more active and began swimming more.

Shigeru Miyamoto

Simple, sincere people seldom speak much of their piety. It shows itself in acts rather than in words, and has more influence than homilies or protestations. Beth could not reason upon or explain the faith that gave her courage and patience to give up life, and cheerfully wait for death. Like a confiding child, she asked no questions, but left everything to God and nature, Father and Mother of us all, feeling sure that they, and they only, could teach and strengthen heart and spirit for this life and the life to come. She did not rebuke Jo with saintly speeches, only loved her better for her passionate affection, and clung more closely to the dear human love, from which our Father never means us to be weaned, but through which He draws us closer to Himself. She could not say, I'm glad to go, for life was very sweet for her. She could only sob out, I try to be willing, while she held fast to Jo, as the first bitter wave of this great sorrow broke over them together.

Louisa May Alcott, Little Women,

Power may be at the end of a gun, but sometimes it's also at the end of the shadow or the image of a gun.

Jean Genet

Not by gain our life is measured, But by what we've lost 'Tis scored; 'Tis not how much wine is drunken But how much has been outpoured. For the strength of love never standeth In the sacrifice we bear; He who has the greatest suffering Ever has the most to share.

Watchman Nee

Dreams have their place in managerial activity, but they need to be kept severely under control.

Lord Weinstock

No one really knows why they are alive until they know what they'd die for.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Life has two choices: create or destruct. These choices are the backbone for all, within oneself and outside oneself. Too many ways of thinking are described by too many people that have no idea. If you're attached to your ways then detach, so you can change. Use this detachment in your writing, relationships, and understanding of life. Our future as individuals, as nations, and as mankind can only go one way. It's our choice whether we want the painful path or the peaceful path.

Mark O'Brien

Novels are food for the leftover hours of life, the in-between times, the moments of waiting.

Young-ha Kim

Being Adam Parrish was a complicated thing, a wonder of muscles and organs, synapses and nerves. He was a miracle of moving parts, a study in survival. The most important thing to Adam Parrish, though, had always been free will, the ability to be his own master.This was the important thing.It had always been the important thing. This was what it was to be Adam.

Maggie Stiefvater

An ounce of cheerfulness is worth a pound of sadness to serve God with.

Thomas Fuller