“A man cannot be comfortable [or cannot be made comfortable] without his own approval.”

To not sing with an orchestra, to not be able to communicate through my voice, which I’ve done all my life, and not to be able to phrase lyrics and give people that kind of joy, I think I would be totally devastated.

I don’t know about you, but I can never get enough David Letterman.

A Hot Fudge Sundae and a trashy novel is my idea of heaven.

Wait for those unguarded moments. Relax the mood and, like the child dropping off to sleep, the subject often reveals his truest self.

I also found that for myself, since I’ve had no religious education, it was so interesting to see the different versions of heaven and what life on earth means.

Because there are so many shows on and because I’ve been so hands-on – I’ve had a piece on almost every single week – I don’t know how to cut back on that. You really can’t.

Parents of young children should realize that few people, and maybe no one, will find their children as enchanting as they do.

A great many people think that polysyllables are a sign of intelligence and refinement so they think they will impress others with their command of obscure words.

I can get a better grasp of what is going on in the world from one good Washington dinner party than from all the background information NBC piles on my desk.

Deep breaths are very helpful at shallow parties.

when your child is in trouble, the first thing you do is blame yourself.

The origin of a modern party is anthropological: humans meet and share food to lower hostility between them and indicate friendship.

Before we had airplanes and astronauts, we really thought that there was an actual place beyond the clouds, somewhere over the rainbow. There was an actual place, and we could go above the clouds and find it.there.

I also found that for myself, since I’ve had no religious education, it was so interesting to see the different versions of heaven and what life on earth means.

Most of us have trouble juggling. The woman who says she doesn’t is someone whom I admire but have never met.

Most attractive males talk to most attractive women as if they were Rotarians comparing sales percentages in Des Moines.

When we experience the power of the Self, there is an absence of fear, there is no compulsion to control, and no struggle for approval or external power.

You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

A large number of us have developed a feeling that architects tend to design houses for the approval of fellow architects and critics, not for the tenants.

The most splendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval.

Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.

People who want the most approval get the least and people who need approval the least get the most.

Can you seek your own approval instead of theirs?

Forget conventionalisms; forget what the world thinks of you stepping out of your place; think your best thoughts, speak your best words, work your best works, looking to your own conscience for approval.