They basically said that if I didn't show up for school they'd mark me present, they wouldn't send the truant officer after me. At 16 I enrolled in something called continuing education. Once a month I'd go out to Jamaica, but I didn't take it seriously.

Every man of character will have that character questioned. Every man of honor and courage will be faced with unjust criticism, but never forget that unjust criticism has no impact whatsoever upon the truth. And the only sure way to avoid criticism is to do nothing and be nothing.

Andy Andrews

Nothing can bring a real sense of security into the home except true love.

Billy Graham

The line of beauty is the line of perfect economy.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval.

Denis Waitley

A beggar had been sitting by the side of the road for over thirty years. One day a stranger walked by.Spare some change? mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his baseball cap.I have nothing to give you, said the stranger. Then he added, What's that you are sitting on?Nothing, replied the beggar, Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.Ever look inside? asked the stranger.What's the point? There's nothing in there.Have a look inside, insisted the stranger.The beggar managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw the box was filled with gold.

Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now:

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.

Albert Einstein

Three chords and the truth - that's what a country song is.

Willie Nelson

We fiction writers are a brazen lot, are we not? For we, in our passion, embrace just enough truth to consecrate our delicately contrived lies.

Val Edward Simone

I have always disliked being a man. The whole idea of manhood in America is pitiful, in my opinion. This version of masculinity is a little like having to wear an ill-fitting coat for one's entire life (by contrast, I imagine femininity to be an oppressive sense of nakedness).

Paul Theroux

It's only when you're alone that you realize where you are. You have nothing to fall back on except your own resources.

Paul Theroux

It is Barack Obama who is at war with this country. Recent events prove it. This is not a cliche. It's not a figure of speech. Obama is at war with the U.S. economy.

Rush Limbaugh

My mother, she had a very good attitude toward money. I'm very grateful for the fact that we had to learn to save. I used to get like 50 pence a week, and I'd save it for like five months. And then I'd spend it on Christmas presents. I'd save up like eight pounds. It's nothing, but we did that.

Gemma Arterton