“I conceive a knowledge of books is the basis upon which other knowledge is to be built.”

The turning points of lives are not the great moments. The real crises are often concealed in occurrences so trivial in appearance that they pass unobserved.

Experience has taught us, that men will not adopt and carry into execution measures best calculated for their own good, without the intervention of a coercive power.

Happiness depends more upon the internal frame of a person’s own mind, than on the externals in the world.

Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.

Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty abused to licentiousness.

A sensible woman can never be happy with a fool.

If the cause is advanced, indifferent is it to me where or in what quarter it happens.

There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.

Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust.

The basis of our political systems is the right of the people to make and to alter their Constitutions of Government.

I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from my mom.

I’ll die on my feet before I’ll live on my knees!

Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.

To encourage literature and the arts is a duty which every good citizen owes to his country.

Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother.

Someone has said that there are four things necessary in studying the Bible: Admit, submit, commit and transmit.

I read a lot when I’m travelling and always have a couple of books on the go.

You can only learn so much from books. You can only learn so much from education. Ultimately, it is the wisdom of God that will carry you through in the toughest situations of life.

I like being at home with my music and my books. I’ve done all the partying, I’ve done enough partying for four or five people as a young fella. But now I like the quiet life.

A book should be luminous not voluminous.

Everybody does have a book in them, but in most cases that’s where it should stay.

If it is a distinction to have written a good book, it is also a disgrace to have written a bad one.

My dream is to put together a performance of the evolution of black music with Cirque du Soleil . I would also like to do street opera and children’s books. But even as I work toward these things, I want to simplify my life.