My overriding belief is that it is always possible for criminals to improve and that by its very finality the death penalty contradicts this.

Life is as dear to a mute creature as it is to man. Just as one wants happiness and fears pain, just as one wants to live and not die, so do other creatures.

Spend some time alone every day.

We have never declared war on China. We have only asked them to leave us in peace, to let us have our natural freedom.

People should not rush to change religions. There is real value in finding the spiritual resources you need in your home religion. Even secular humanism has great spiritual resources; it is almost like a religion to me.

Human beings will continue to deceive and overpower one another. Basically, everyone exists in the very nature of suffering, so to abuse or mistreat each other is futile. The foundation of all spiritual practice is love. That you practice this well is my only request.

Peace does not come through prayer, we human beings must create peace.