As much as I hate his movies, Oliver Stone has an aspiration I admire, and that is that he wants his art to be part of what makes and changes public policy and cultural practice.

I know every book of mine by its smell, and I have but to put my nose between the pages to be reminded of all sorts of things.

George Robert Gissing

There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.

Johann Kaspar Lavater

The mysterious is always attractive. People will always follow a vail.

Bede Jarrett, The House of Gold

Sooner or later in life everyone discovers that perfect happiness is unrealizable, but there are few who stop to consider the antithesis; that perfect unhappiness is equally unattainable.

Primo Levi

Man cannot be free if he does not know that he is subject to necessity, because his freedom is always won in his never wholly successful attempts to liberate himself from necessity.

Hannah Arendt

A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

George Bernard Shaw

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we've done something wonderful... that's what matters to me.

Steve Jobs

To reach a port we must sail, sometimes with the wind, and sometimes against it. But we must not drift or lie at anchor.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

There have been studies that clearly state that children who are exposed to arts education at a young age will in fact do markedly better in their SAT tests.

Marvin Hamlisch

We have met the enemy and it is us.

Walt Kelly, "Pogo comic strip"

I asked my wife if she enjoys a cigarette after sex and she said, no one drag is enough

Rodney Dangerfield

Every man is rich or poor according to the proportion between his desires and his enjoyments.

Samuel Johnson