Yes, be different, but not for the vanities of being different.

I'm often painted as the bad guy, and the artistic part of me wants to hand out the brush.

Love without humility results in the inclination to act as everyone's parent, humility without love results in the need to be everyone's child, and love with humility results in the desire to be a friend.

You have to lift a person up before you can really put them in their place.

The motive behind criticism often determines its validity. Those who care criticize where necessary. Those who envy criticize the moment they think that they have found a weak spot.

I never feel unsafe except for when the majority is on my side.

When your only regret is if anyone thinks you regret anything - that is the definition of conviction.