When I passed forty I dropped pretense, 'cause men like women who got some sense.

Would you deny your son or your daughter the ecstasy of finding someone to love?

Growing up, my grandmother did not want worldly music in the house. Then when I went out to California, I started listening to Spanish music, mostly Mexican music. But were I in Egypt, I would listen to the music of the people, or if I was in Italy, I'd listen to Italian music.

You will face many defeats in your life, but never let yourself be defeated.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear, I rise. Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear, I rise.

In the 16th century, [Niccolò] Machiavelli - in an attempt to get back in the good graces of the powerful - wrote a slim volume called The Prince. In that book he showed the powers that be how to control the people. That book is a statement: separate and rule, divide and conquer. That's five hundred years ago and it still works, because we allow ourselves to be lead around with holes through our noses.

Be wary when a naked person offers you his shirt