There are more pleasant things to do than beat up people.

Early on, I was so impressed with Charles Dickens. I grew up in the South, in a little village in Arkansas, and the whites in my town were really mean, and rude. Dickens, I could tell, wouldn’t be a man who would curse me out and talk to me rudely.

People in tough times – it doesn’t mean they don’t have a great attitude.

I believe in the spirit of equality and the spirit of this country as one of love and compassion and kindness.

When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?

Even if my songs are quite sad or quite dark, I don’t want my songs to make people sad. It’s very important for me that all my songs have some kind of hope or light.

Off with you! You’re a happy fellow, for you’ll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that!

In difficult times, we’re not supposed to quit believing; we’re not supposed to quit growing.

Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, shall win my love.

Non-violence requires a double faith, faith in God and also faith in man.

Better do a good deed near at home than go far away to burn incense.

I think what motivates people is not great hate, but great love for other people.

God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.

Pity may represent little more than the impersonal concern which prompts the mailing of a check, but true sympathy is the personal concern which demands the giving of one’s soul.

Having nothing, nothing can he lose.

I mean, I feel like you get more bees with honey. But that doesn’t mean I don’t get frustrated in my life.

I’m a woman, and anytime you tell a woman that she looks nice, it’s not going to upset her.

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours.

Protect your enthusiasm from the negativity of others.

It’s in the difficult times that we’re growing and you can’t just rebuke everything hard. We’ve got to endure it and fight the good fight of faith and pass the test.

If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? We shouldn’t marginalise people for this. They must be integrated into society.

Never elated when someone’s oppressed, never dejected when another one’s blessed.

Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.

Every day is a gift from God, no matter how old we are.

It is not God’s will merely that we should be happy, but that we should make ourselves happy.

One of the most pervasive political visions of our time is the vision of liberals as compassionate and conservatives as less caring.

When you have kids, you see life through different eyes. You feel love more deeply and are maybe a little more compassionate. It’s inevitable that that would make its way into your songwriting.

I’ve 20,000 hours of clinical practice; you’re not naive after the first few thousand. I’ve helped people deal with things that most people can’t imagine.

Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.

I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there’s purpose and worth to each and every life.

Being happy is a matter of personal taste.

I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers.

Life would be tragic if it weren’t funny.

Real living is living for others.

No matter how bad any situation, cynicism has no positive impact. Watching the news, you might notice that cynicism and victimhood often seem to go hand-in-hand, but not for veterans.

We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.

Not always actions show the man; we find who does a kindness is not therefore kind.

Hope is a waking dream.

He has achieved success who has worked well, laughed often, and loved much.

The only wealth which you will keep forever is the wealth you have given away.

When doubt comes against us, we have to lift up the shield of faith. We do this when we open our mouth and say what God’s Word says, rather than grumbling and complaining about the problem.

An overflow of good converts to bad.

T stands for being nice. T stands for manners. T stands for being polite.

Your joy comes from how you think, the choices that we make in life.

Every day is a gift from God. Learn to focus on the Giver and enjoy the gift!

There is no hope unmingled with fear, and no fear unmingled with hope.

I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun.

What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?

Only a philosophy of eternity, in the world today, could justify non-violence.

When people need love and understanding and support the most is when they deserve it the least.

Whatever possession we gain by our sword cannot be sure or lasting, but the love gained by kindness and moderation is certain and durable.

I’m not a bad person.

If you would lift me up you must be on higher ground.

This is a world of action, and not for moping and droning in.

Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.

Social Security is based on a principle. It’s based on the principle that you care about other people. You care whether the widow across town, a disabled widow, is going to be able to have food to eat.

Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace.

A person once asked me, in a provocative manner, if I approved of homosexuality. I replied with another question: ‚Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?‘ We must always consider the person.

Giving is true having.

You can change your world by changing your words… Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.

It is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you have the power to choose either.