My son is the best thing that ever happened to me. And through me - to a lot of people.

If I'm the people's poet, then I ought to be in people's hands - and, I hope, in their heart.

Here on the pulse of this new day You may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, Into your brother's face, your country And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning.

Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

The only way you can be a mark is if you want something for nothing. If you're greedy, you're set up.

I'm not sure if resilience is ever achieved alone. Experience allows us to learn from example. But if we have someone who loves us-I don't mean who indulges us, but who loves us enough to be on our side-then it's easier to grow resilience, to grow belief in self, to grow self-esteem. And it's self-esteem that allows a person to stand up.

If our children are to approve of themselves, they must see that we approve of ourselves.