A man can’t be too careful in the choice of his enemies.

What’s wrong with being a boring kind of guy?

The older I get the more wisdom I find in the ancient rule of taking first things first. A process which often reduces the most complex human problem to a manageable proportion.

Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.

I have never regarded myself as a hero, but Tenzing undoubtedly was.

The fact is, I was never too bright in school. I ain’t ashamed of it, though. I mean, how much do school principals make a month?

Human beings must be known to be loved; but Divine beings must be loved to be known.

There should be a point to movies. Sure, you’re giving people a diversion from the cold world for a bit, but at the same time, you pass on some facts and rules and maybe a little bit of wisdom.

Ask an older person you respect to tell you his or her greatest regret.

As I approve of a youth that has something of the old man in him, so I am no less pleased with an old man that has something of the youth. He that follows this rule may be old in body, but can never be so in mind.

Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods.

After many years of great mercy, after tasting of the powers of the world to come, we still are so weak, so foolish; but, oh! when we get away from self to God, there all is truth and purity and holiness, and our heart finds peace, wisdom, completeness, delight, joy, victory.

Our necessities never equal our wants.

Dealing with backstabbers, there was one thing I learned. They’re only powerful when you got your back turned.

It has not yet become obvious to me that there’s no real problem. I cannot define the real problem; therefore, I suspect there’s no real problem, but I’m not sure there’s no real problem.

That man is not truly brave who is afraid either to seem or to be, when it suits him, a coward.

The true identity theft is not financial. It’s not in cyberspace. It’s spiritual. It’s been taken.

Too often the great decisions are originated and given form in bodies made up wholly of men, or so completely dominated by them that whatever of special value women have to offer is shunted aside without expression.

A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom.

Cowardice… is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend functioning of the imagination.

The issues that cross a president’s desk are never easy. The easy questions don’t even get to the president.

He who does not trust enough, Will not be trusted.

Everyone has at least one story, and each of us is funny if we admit it. You have to admit you’re the funniest person you’ve ever heard of.

I’m no leader; I’m a little humble follower.

We will burn that bridge when we come to it.

It is said that the present is pregnant with the future.

I was brought up to try to see what was wrong and right it. Since I am a writer, writing is how I right it.

I think there is a lot made out of age, and what age you feel.

In the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.

In crises the most daring course is often safest.

What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think – or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?

If you gonna wear the mohawk, you stick with it. You don’t just be dibby-dabbing. You make up your mind.

Science is what you know, philosophy is what you don’t know.

It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires great strength to decide on what to do.

My biographers… would like to have my time at the court almost complete before they finish the book. We decided… to flip the order.

For people who may think they know, or have snippets of who I am, you can attack that person. That’s part of being a public figure.

The robbed that smiles, steals something from the thief.

As an athlete, you’d better laugh at yourself when you slip in the mud.

Is there anyone so wise as to learn by the experience of others?

It is a wise father that knows his own child.

When you are winning a war almost everything that happens can be claimed to be right and wise.

All the truth in the world adds up to one big lie.

Thinking isn’t agreeing or disagreeing. That’s voting.

The conscience can be a strong guide in life if we allow it.

I’ve watched a lot of people who became famous who completely change and I think it’s because they tend to believe all the hype that’s out there. I don’t think there’s that much hype about me.

Thought is the wind and knowledge the sail.

Books are like a mirror. If an ass looks in, you can’t expect an angel to look out.

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!

Either you think, or else others have to think for you and take power from you, pervert and discipline your natural tastes, civilize and sterilize you.

Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.

We are second-hand people. We have lived on what we have been told, either guided by our inclinations, our tendencies, or compelled to accept by circumstances and environment. We are the result of all kinds of influences, and there is nothing new in us, nothing that we have discovered for ourselves: nothing original, pristine, clear.

Forty to 60 I would say is your prime. That’s when you know the most, you’ve seen the most, you understand the most, and you still have some physical energy.

He who knows others is wise. He who knows himself is enlightened.

The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.

Do I wear a helmet? Ugh. I do when I’m riding through a precarious part of town, meaning Midtown traffic. But when I’m riding on secure protected lanes or on the paths that run along the Hudson or through Central Park – no, I don’t wear the dreaded helmet then.

I don’t mind telling a dark side.

Take care to get what you like or you will be forced to like what you get.

A word to the wise is infuriating.

It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness and I pronounce it as certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous.

Twice and thrice over, as they say, good is it to repeat and review what is good.

Eight, as you know, is not a good number for a multi-member court.