“Great men are like eagles, and build their nest on some lofty solitude.”

Every parting gives a foretaste of death, every reunion a hint of the resurrection.

We forfeit three-fourths of ourselves in order to be like other people.

It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else.

One should use common words to say uncommon things.

Honor has not to be won; it must only not be lost.

The shortness of life, so often lamented, may be the best thing about it.

Wealth is like seawater; the more we drink, the thirstier we become, and the same is true of fame.

Music is the melody whose text is the world.

A sense of humor is the only divine quality of man.

The safest way of not being very miserable is not to expect to be very happy.

We seldom speak of what we have but often of what we lack.

Animals hear about death for the first time when they die.

Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal.

Man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills.

Hope is the confusion of the desire for a thing with its probability.

Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.

I don’t know what it feels like not to have a great family support system – I was lucky to have that.

And perhaps the greatest peace of art is in the brush stroke of our suffering.

The greatest profound pain is cased by, and is the result of our own illusions, fantasies and dreams.

It feels like I’ve been singing since I was born, and I have so many great memories with my family and friends centred around music.

My mission in heaven will be to draw souls, helping them to go out of themselves to cling to God, with a spontaneous, love-filled action, and to keep them in that great interior silence which enables God to make his mark on them, to transform them into himself.

And we’re fortunate if we have parents who are great and loving and inspiring. But, unfortunately, there are people who don’t have that.

Listening without bias or distraction is the greatest value you can pay another person.

I was brought up by two extremely intelligent people who gave me the greatest gift that man can give anyone, and that is freedom from fear.