The difficult part in an argument is not to defend one's opinion, but rather to know it.

Through no divine design or cosmic plan, we have inherited the mantle of life's caretaker on the earth, the only home we have ever known.

Michael Shermer

It is not so important to know everything as to know the exact value of everything, to appreciate what we learn, and to arrange what we know.

Hannah More

I was uncomfortable writing fiction. My love was the personal essay, rather than the novel.

Alain de Botton

The look of a king is itself a deed.

Jean Paul

When I walk up on that shore in Florida, I want millions of those AARP sisters and brothers to look at me and say, 'I'm going to go write that novel I thought it was too late to do. I'm going to go work in Africa on that farm that those people need help at. I'm going to adopt a child. It's not too late, I can still live my dreams.'

Diana Nyad

When a man touches a woman's body, he is not just touching her body. It goes MUCH DEEPER than that for a woman. He is touching parts of her soul-parts as diverse as how she feels about being a grandmother some day, to what is her favorite ice cream, to how much she loves her pet, and to her opinion of how the current President is governing. The man wants a sexual encounter and love is far from his mind; she desires permanence, commitment, safety, and security.

Jim Anderson

I'm sure I don't know half the people who come to my house. Indeed, from all I hear, I shouldn't like to.

Oscar Wilde

Oratory is the art of making deep noises form the chest sound like important massages from the brain.

H. L. Phillips

Michael: This used to be my father's old study -- it's changed. I remember there used to be a big desk, right here. I remember when I was a kid, Frankie, we had to be very quiet when we played near here. I was very happy that this house never went to strangers -- first Clemenza took it over, now you. My father taught me many things here -- he taught me in this room... (then, as Michael sits beside Pentangeli) He taught me -- keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

Mario Puzo, Al Pacino as Michael

Let us come to the philosophers, whose authority is of greater weight, and their judgment more to be relied on, because they are believed to have paid attention, not to matters of fiction, but to the investigation of the truth.

Lactantius

You can give in to the failure messages and be a bitter deadbeat of excuses. Or you can choose to be happy and positive and excited about life.

A.L. Williams

The prospects for a coherent, hilarious and consistent American comedy seem to lessen every year, as the poor waterlogged, gassy corpse called 'Evan Almighty' proved when it floated ashore recently. So there's a temptation to think too highly of Robin Williams's uneven but occasionally funny 'License to Wed.'

Stephen Hunter