I am infinitely grateful to the life which privileged me.

Dreams are the touchstones of our characters.

Henry David Thoreau

Every age, every culture, every custom and tradition has its own character, its own weakness and its own strength, its beauties and cruelties; it accepts certain sufferings as matters of course, puts up patiently with certain evils. Human life is reduced to real suffering, to hell, only when two ages, two cultures and religions overlap.

Hermann Hesse

The 19thc hatred of Realism is Caliban's enraged reaction to seeing his own face in the mirror. The 19thc rejection of Romanticism is Caliban's fury at not seeing his face reflected in the mirror.

Oscar Wilde

But the attitude of faith is to let go, and become open to truth, whatever it might turn out to be.

Alan Watts

And what do Democrats stand for, if they are so ready to defame concerned citizens as the 'mob' - a word betraying a Marie Antoinette delusion of superiority to ordinary mortals. I thought my party was populist, attentive to the needs and wishes of those outside the power structure. And as a product of the 1960s, I thought the Democratic party was passionately committed to freedom of thought and speech.

Camille Paglia

You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.

Friedrich Nietzsche

I looked at the campers, all of them grim and determined. I tried not to feel like this was the last time I'd ever see them all together. 'You're the greatest heroes of this millennium,' I told them. 'It doesn't matter how many monsters come at you. Fight bravely, and we will win.' I raised Riptide and shouted, 'FOR OLYMPUS!' They shouted in response, and our forty voices echoed off the buildings of Midtown.

Rick Riordan

War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.

Thomas Jefferson

The polls undoubtedly help to decide what people think, but their most important long-term influence may be on how people think. The interrogative process is very distinctly weighted against the asking of an intelligent question or the recording of a thoughtful answer.

Christopher Hitchens

Violence against women in all its forms is a human rights violation. It's not something that any culture, religion or tradition propagates.

Michelle Bachelet

Unless and until Barack Obama addresses the full depth of Americans' anger with his full arsenal of policy smarts and political gifts, his presidency and, worse, our economy will be paralyzed.

Frank Rich

It's not fun facing a ball going 97 mph, trust me.

Kevin Pietersen