My expertise was in public finance, particularly corporate taxation, since I had worked at the US Treasury.

Art is a conversation we are all invited to and are all worthy to participate in. Yes, great works can be intimidating, but no one else in the world has what you have -- your voice, your eyes, your feeling and perspective. Other people have written great books, but no one else will ever write YOUR book. It's worth writing. That is the belief that carries me through.

Rachel Hartman

The essence of the Liberal outlook lies not in what opinions are held, but in how they are held: instead of being held dogmatically, they are held tentatively, and with a consciousness that new evidence may at any moment lead to their abandonment.

Bertrand Russell

I think there's something quite interesting about the almost tragic quality of a lot of overwrought prose, because it has a much more self-conscious awareness of its own failure to touch the real.

China Mieville

More people should read books. It's the most concentrated experience you can have.

Vivienne Westwood

I find it unusual that it is more socially acceptable to complain about what you have than it is to ask for what you want.

Phil Lout

The power of faith will often shine forth the most when the character is naturally weak.

Augustus Hare

Once when I was young and true, Someone left me sad- Broke my brittle heart in two; And that was very bad. Love is for unlucky folk. Love is but a curse. Once there was a heart I broke; And that, I think, is worse.

Dorothy Parker, A Very Short Son

Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.

Mark Twain

Credit is the vital air of the system of modern commerce. It has done more, a thousand times, to enrich nations, than all the mines of all the world. It has excited labor, stimulated manufactures, pushed commerce over every sea, and brought every nation, every kingdom, and every small tribe, among the races of men, to be known to all the rest. It has raised armies, equipped navies, and, triumphing over the gross power of mere numbers, it has established national superiority on the foundation of intelligence, wealth, and well-directed industry. Credit is to money what money is to articles of merchandise. As hard money represents property, so credit represents hard money; and it is capable of supplying the place of money so completely, that there are writers of distinction, especially of the Scotch school, who insist that no hard money is necessary for the interests of commerce. I am not of that opinion. I do not think any government can maintain an exclusive paper system, without running to excess, and thereby causing depreciation.

Daniel Webster

What's funny is my husband doesn't have any tattoos at all, so he must be the very conservative one.

Ashley Scott

Nothing is so common-place as to wish to be remarkable.

William Shakespeare

I can't, I have too many pencils to sharpen.

David Rees