To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow.

There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.

The children to whom we read simple stories may or may not show gratitude, but each boon we give strengthens the pillars of the world.

Look for the beauty in things.

I would ask every man and every woman who's had the blessing of having children, 'Would you deny your son or your daughter the ecstasy of finding someone to love?' To love someone takes a lot of courage. So how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, 'I forbid you from loving this person'?

Remember, people will judge you by your actions not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold but so does a hard-boiled egg.

We cannot change the past, but we can change our attitude toward it. Uproot guilt and plant forgiveness. Tear out arrogance and seed humility. Exchange love for hate - thereby, making the present comfortable and the future promising.