Everything I've ever done that's valuable is something I was afraid to try.

I do play tennis, but I don't really like competition. I'm supposed to be so intense, but I hate competition.

Some parents let their kids sleep at other people's houses, where they drink alcohol, watch TV for hours and God knows what else. But if you say you have to get all A's and practice the violin for two hours, then they consider that abusive. That upsets me.

Don't assume your child is weak. If you, the parent, assume that they can't take anymore, what kind of signal are you sending them?

Both of my girls have very high self-esteem because they were both able to master certain things; I should think that's good for their confidence.

As a purely mathematical fact, people who sleep less live more.

Genghis Khan decreed religious tolerance for all of his conquered peoples. So I think he definitely would approve of our constitutional protections of freedom of religion. I think he would also approve of the way the U.S. has been able to attract talented people from all over the world.