The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but that as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the Devil.

Hazing is an extraordinary activity that, when it occurs often enough, becomes perversely ordinary as those who engage in it grow desensitized to its inhumanity.

Hank Nuwer, Wrongs of Passage

The degree of one's emotions varies inversely with one's knowledge of the facts.

Bertrand Russell

At issue was the question whether this man's faith could prevail against a man whose equal faith it was that this society is sick beyond saving, and that mercy itself pleads for its swift extinction and replacement by another.

Whittaker Chambers

Wanting to is the whole lesson; all the rest is practice.

Orson Scott Card

The first duty of man is to conquer fear he must get rid of it, he cannot act till then.

Thomas Carlyle

When I was a little kid - and even still - I loved magic tricks. When I saw how movies got made - at least had a glimpse when I went on the Universal Studios tour with my grandfather, I remember feeling like this was another means by which I could do magic.

J. J. Abrams

If you ask a member of this generation two simple questions: How do you want the world to be in fifty years? and What do you want your life to be like five years from now? the answers are quite often preceded by Provided there is still a world and Provided I am still alive. To the often-heard question, Who are they, this new generation? one is tempted to answer, Those who hear the ticking. And to the other question, Who are they who utterly deny them? the answer may well be, Those who do not know, or refuse to face, things as they really are.

Hannah Arendt

The key to your happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't. If you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die searching, you'll die bitter, always feeling you were promised more. Not only our actions, but also our omissions, become our destiny.

Abraham Verghese

The dust of controversy is merely the falsehood flying off.

Thomas Carlyle

We are restless because of incessant change, but we would be frightened if change were stopped.

Lyman L. Bryson

You can have it all. Just not all at once.

Oprah Winfrey

America is so vast that almost everything said about it is likely to be true, and the opposite is probably equally true.

James T. Farrell