"Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down within incredible swiftness."

"Sometimes there is a greater lack of communication in facile talking than in silence."

"Breathe deeply, anchor your attention in this breath, and let the storm pass. A lesson woven into the fabric of human history."

"The present moment is the only sanctuary where peace truly resides. For where clarity resides, peace inevitably follows — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"Men think highly of those who rise rapidly in the world whereas nothing rises quicker than dust, straw, and feathers."

"We watch a lot of Discovery Channel, shows like 'The Biggest Loser' and even 'Amazing Race.' You learn a lot about the world, it's fun and nobody's interested in beating anybody down. And then the opposite: I'm a huge fan of 'Survivor.'"

"The art world is molting - some would say melting. Galleries are closing museums are scaling back."

"As with real reading, the ability to comprehend subtlety and complexity comes only with time and a lot of experience. If you don't adequately acquire those skills, moving out into the real world of real people can actually become quite scary."