I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.” People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. “I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. “One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. A story is what it's like to be a human being-to be knocked down and to miraculously arise. “When the storyteller tells the truth, she reminds us that human beings are more alike than unalike. “Prepare yourself so that you can be a rainbow in somebody else's cloud.” I don't mean support you in bad things you do, that I can understand because you're a human being.” I mean that idea, that human beings are more alike than we are different. And I don't mean sentimentality, I don't mean mush. “I believe that people want the scent of love, more than anything else. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” “I'm a writer and writers either have good memories or nothing at all.” To try to have, try to learn to treat each other fairly, with generosity and kindness.” “My hope is that we develop enough courage to develop courage.
“Each person deserves a day away in which no problems are confronted, no solutions searched for.” And so when we sing, when we dance, when we speak poetry we are speaking out of God's mouth, each other out of the music from God's heart.”
Out of poetry, out of their need for poetry, human beings have developed the idea of God. “Poetry and music are the best at the highest level of the human mind. I love, too, that I know a little more today than I did yesterday, or I simply know it more profoundly.” There are many people who went to bed just as I did yesterday evening and didn't wake this morning. Yes there is much to do, much to see, much to go into.” We have to grow up and stop acting like 10 years old. “We can be better, we can be wiser, we can be more kind. “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Happiness is a chance to be myself and to find people with whom I agree or who I don't agree but I can learn something.” “Happiness is a chance to talk to a friend, to hear good music, to have a good glass of wine. I am grateful that we can be angry at the terrorist assault and at the same time be intelligent enough not to hold a grudge against every Arab and every Muslim.” “Depending on who I am talking about or who's talking through me - if the person is a kind of hip-hop, or rhythm and blues person, or if the person is a kind of old-fashion gothic, meaning gothic attitude, then that will determine what form the poem will take.” “Our stories come from our lives and from the playwright's pen, the mind of the actor, the roles we create, the artistry of life itself and the quest for peace.” I think the chef and the baker and the candlestick maker - I think everybody should be hoping to make it a better world.” I'd agree with that, but I think everybody should do that. “There are those who say that poets should use her and his art to change the world. “I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” We should be more patient with ourselves and with each other.” “I think we ought to give ourselves more time. “I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.” The human truth is as elusive as the air. You have the places where, the people who, the times when, the reasons why, the methods how - blah blah. You can have so many facts that you don't deal with the truth. “There is a world of difference between facts and the truth. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” “My son is the best thing that ever happened to me. You are relieved of carrying that burden of resentment. It's one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive.