The bird of paradise alights only on the hand that does not grasp.

Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.

William Shakespeare

Our job here is not to build a better world...but to do all we can to help make it brighter.

Timothy Pina

The boy was lying, fast asleep, on a rude bed upon the floor; so pale with anxiety, and sadness, and the closeness of his prison, that he looked like death; not death as it shews in shroud and coffin, but in the guise it wears when life has just departed; when a young and gentle spirit has, but an instant, fled to Heaven: and the gross air of the world has not had time to breathe upon the changing dust it hallowed.

Charles Dickens

The beauty of the internal nature cannot be so far concealed by its accidental vesture, but that the spirit of its form shall communicate itself to the very disguise and indicate the shape it hides from the manner in which it is worn. A majestic form and graceful motions will express themselves through the most barbarous and tasteless costume.

Percy Bysshe Shelley

Funding for sports (and the arts) are often the first things facing the chop in difficult times.

Lucy Powell

We tend to think of politics as bad, full of dirty tricks, negative ads, big campaigns, but I am here to explore the original meaning of politics, which is positive and has to do with balancing competing interests and looking for solutions.

Eric Liu

History and experience tell us that moral progress comes not in comfortable and complacent times, but out of trial and confusion.

Gerald R. Ford

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have?Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!

Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775

Listening to a news broadcast is like smoking a cigarette and crushing the butt in the ashtray.

Milan Kundera

I can't imagine the scientists wanting me to walk into the lab and start fiddling around with some big bowl of electrons they had out.

Jim Benton

You never see what you want to see, forever playing to the gallery.

Robertson Davies

It's something I never dreamed I'd be doing, making movies.

Jason Statham