“There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope.”

To manage men one ought to have a sharp mind in a velvet sheath.

We are led on, like little children, by a way we know not.

Human feeling is like the mighty rivers that bless the earth: it does not wait for beauty – it flows with resistless force and brings beauty with it.

It is always good to know, if only in passing, charming human beings. It refreshes one like flowers and woods and clear brooks.

Conscience is harder than our enemies, Knows more, accuses with more nicety.

There is no killing the suspicion that deceit has once begotten.

Knowledge slowly builds up what Ignorance in an hour pulls down.

It is painful to be told that anything is very fine and not be able to feel that it is fine–something like being blind, while people talk of the sky.

One must be poor to know the luxury of giving!

After all, the true seeing is within.

When God makes His presence felt through us, we are like the burning bush: Moses never took any heed what sort of bush it was—he only saw the brightness of the Lord.

Friendship is the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words.

It’s no use filling your pocket with money if you have got a hole in the corner.

We want people to feel with us more than to act for us.

It is pleasant to have a kind word now and then when one is not near enough to have a kind glance or a hearty shake by the hand.

In travelling I shape myself betimes to idleness And take fools’ pleasure

I didn’t lose my virginity until I was 18 The first time was a nightmare. Who shows you how to use a condom?

When you work as hard as you can and as much as you can to make your first album, and you don’t make any money, then you change things.

The best of the people are the first to greet others.

I really knew I wanted to be Adam, because Adam was the first man. Ant I chose because, if there’s a nuclear explosion, the ants will survive.

In the first way he sees in what surrounds him things to be handled, forces to be managed, objects to be put to use.

To create is, first and foremost, to create time.

Being the first born gives you great patience.

I knew I was destined to do a solo album, but when I did that first album in 1978, I had no idea it was going to be that well received.