Have you ever asked yourselves what you are going to do when you grow up? In all likelihood you will get married, and before you know where you are, you will be mothers and fathers; and you will then be tied to a job, or to the kitchen, in which you will gradually wither away. Is that all that your life is going to be?

Peace is one of the most precious gifts God has promised His children. I know, because for many years my life was not peaceful, and I was miserable.

Well I think a lot of times we’re putting things off and I’m going to do it later. I’m going to break this bad habit or I’m going to pursue this dream or I’m going to treat my spouse better.

At 30 a man should know himself like the palm of his hand, know the exact number of his defects and qualities, know how far he can go, foretell his failures – be what he is. And, above all, accept these things.

Sexuality is one of the ways that we become enlightened, actually, because it leads us to self-knowledge.

The happiest people in the world are those who feel absolutely terrific about themselves, and this is the natural outgrowth of accepting total responsibility for every part of their life.

Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.

O, had I but followed the arts!

Everybody has done something that we wish we didn’t say or do and wish we could take it back.

I fear that many a man’s good resolutions only need the ordinary fire of daily life to make them melt away. So, too, with fine professions and the boastings of perfection which abound in this age of shams.

Be not a slave of words.

I never thought I would be such a family-oriented guy; I didn’t think that was part of my makeup. But somebody said that as you get older, you become the person you always should have been, and I feel that’s happening to me.

Since we cannot know all that there is to be known about anything, we ought to know a little about everything.

No change of circumstances can repair a defect of character.

It’s a philosophy of life. A practice. If you do this, something will change, what will change is that you will change, your life will change, and if you can change you, you can perhaps change the world.

Always first draw fresh breath after outbursts of vanity and complacency.

Fear? If I have gained anything by damning myself, it is that I no longer have anything to fear.

Feels good to try, but playing a father, I’m getting a little older. I see now that I’m taking it more serious and I do want that lifestyle.

I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.

People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.

If you’ve lost your spirit, even living in the richest country in the world can’t help you become rich.

I worked out early on to give up things I couldn’t do well at all.

Don’t feel sorry for me.

The thing I want more than anything else? I want to have children. I used to feel for every child I had, I would adopt another.

I keep working because I learn something new all the time.

When people get taken over by the ego to such an extent, there is nothing else in their mind except the ego. They can no longer feel or sense their humanity – what they share with other human beings, or even with other life forms on the planet. They are so identified with concepts in their minds that other human beings become concepts as well.

I tended to place my wife under a pedestal.

You are Mrs. Reagan because Mr. Reagan loves you with all his heart.

We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.

We all have two lives: an inner life and an outer life. Your inner life is your soul life, which includes your mind, will and emotions. Your outer life is your physical life. And while God cares about every detail of your life, He is more concerned with your inner life than your outer life.

I was never interested in being powerful or famous. But once I got to film school and learned about movies, I just fell in love with it. I didn’t care what kind of movies I made.

I want to believe that I am improving. This is something that I take really seriously.

If we’re really honest with ourselves, most of us will admit that we want to impress people, and this is what’s causing us to do what we do.

One travels more usefully when alone, because he reflects more.

My overall look on things is a lot more mature than it used to be.

For a long time, I had the idea that I would do a certain amount of work the best I could, and then I would reach a comfort zone, and I wouldn’t be pushed to write more. I would become a different person. It’s a surprise to me that this hasn’t happened. Your body ages, but your mind is the same.

When you’re 40, you can’t ride the fence anymore. You gotta make definite decisions about your life.

I was inspired to spend an entire year – my 65th year – reading, researching, and meditating on Lao-tzu’s messages, practicing them and ultimately writing down these insights as I felt Lao-tzu wanted us to know them.

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

Basically my wife was immature. I’d be at home in the bath and she’d come in and sink my boats.

I’m crazy, but I’m not too crazy.

Whenever I write a novel, I have a strong sense that I am doing something I was unable to do before. With each new work, I move up a step and discover something new inside me.

They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make is choosing the kind of universe you exist in: is it helpful and supportive or hostile and unsupportive? Your answer to this question will make all the difference in terms of how you live your life and what kind of Divine assistance you attract.

I was always interested – I mean, it’s kind of part of your job – I was always interested in the camera.

I have offended God and mankind because my work didn’t reach the quality it should have.

Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions – Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.

When you put down the good things you ought to have done, and leave out the bad ones you did do well, that’s Memoirs.

What it’s like to be me? You know, it’s good to be me. My life is good.

I don’t dislike any of my exes. If I took time to form a relationship, it’s gonna hurt when we move on, but are you puttin‘ White-Out over all that beautiful time together? That was real time in your life. It’s connected to where you are today.

The ego is only an illusion, but a very influential one. Letting the ego-illusion become your identity can prevent you from knowing your true self. Ego, the false idea of believing that you are what you have or what you do, is a backwards way of assessing and living life.

While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.

One thing about me is I try to be honest.

Every man is his own hell.

Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it.

Rituals are important. Nowadays it’s hip not to be married. I’m not interested in being hip.

You don’t have to give way to careless speech or complaining. You don’t have to let your feelings get in the way of what God wants to do in your life.

Failure is simply a few errors in judgment, repeated every day.

The essence of being human is that one does not seek perfection.

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.