He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his.

I think all poems are commissioned. They just come to me without somebody outside commissioning them. The idea comes and I will live with them 'til I get it as close to what I mean. I've never been totally satisfied. I've come close a few times.

I know, that since life is our most precious gift, and as far as we can be absolutely certain, it's given to us to live but once, let us so live we will not regret years of useless virtue, and inertia, and timidity, and ignorance, and in our last moments we can say: 'All my life, all my conscious energies, have been dedicated to the most noble cause in the world, the liberation of the human mind and spirit - beginning with my own'.

All great achievements require time.

The more you know of your history, the more liberated you are.

Don't hesitate to learn the most painful aspects of our history, understand it.

We can only know where we're going if we know where we've been.