The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions.

Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.

Advice? I dont have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If youre writing, youre a writer. Write like youre a goddamn death row inmate and the governor is out of the country and theres no chance for a pardon. Write like youre clinging to the edge of a cliff, white knuckles, on your last breath, and youve got just one last thing to say, like youre a bird flying over us and you can see everything, and please, for Gods sake, tell us something that will save us from ourselves. Take a deep breath and tell us your deepest, darkest secret, so we can wipe our brow and know that were not alone. Write like you have a message from the king. Or dont. Who knows, maybe youre one of the lucky ones who doesnt have to.

Grace demands nothing from us but that we shall await it with confidence.

Great acts are made up of small deeds.

Rather than wishing for change, you first must be prepared to change

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become