Fussing over children who cry only encourages them. That's positive reinforcement for negative behavior.

One thing about whoring: It put a chicken on the table.

Why spend the afternoon making a meal that will be gone in an hour," she'd ask us, "when in the same amount of time, I can do a painting that will last forever?

Don't worry, God understands,' Mom said. 'He knows that your father is a cross we must bear.

I could see why Archimedes got all excited. There was nothing finer than the feeling that came rushing through you when it clicked and you suddenly understood something that had puzzled you. It made you think it just might be possible to get a handle on this old world after all.

Nobody's perfect. We're all just one step up from the beasts and one step down from the angels.

It's so much of what art and creativity are, being able to confront your own demons. If you can do that, you can get through just about everything.