But if there is such a thing as social commitment in literature, I think it must manifest itself in a reader's awareness of the human condition, in the writer's touching some common nerve ending. I think this kind of social commitment, like a lady's slip, should be there but it must not show.

I’ll never retire as long as I live—that’s like retiring from life! I’ll never stop writing, teaching, lecturing. If you’re in good health, living is exciting on its own.

When giving comes directly from the heart, it can never disappoint or embarrass.

Education can't make us all leaders, but it can teach us which leader to follow.

I like the word OLD. Not senior, that's for proms. Older? Older than whom? 'Old' is honorable and ripe

I feel no different than I felt at 99, 98 or 97. Just because you live a long time, you get all this attention. Just because you survived? Of course, I survived a lot.

Children are the true connoisseurs. What’s precious to them has no price, only value.