The Grand Old Party's abiding affection for a 'bigger and better' presidency isn't entirely logical.

After all, the Obama presidency commenced with an effort to reenact the Hundred Days. Yet President Obama's first-term economic performance itself was not 'big' but mediocre - tiny, even.
Amity Shlaes

However, I began meditating at about that time and have continued on and off over the years.
Daniel Goleman

I have to say I have never been comfortable with somebody else telling me what to do - in any way.
Daryl Hall

I'm sorry I didn't go to jail for six months, then I know you could come to see me anytime you wanted to.
Eddie Slovik

I developed the habit of writing novels behind a closed door, or at my uncle's, on the dining table.
Patrick White

We are going to have to be there until we defeat this enemy.
Thelma Drake

I get enormous satisfaction from knowing I'm doing something for society.
Neil deGrasse Tyson

I prefer to see with closed eyes.
Josef Albers

I'm no day at the beach. And if it is a beach, it's Hampton Beach. Ever been there? It's not nice.
Denis Leary

Gemeoss

The calls that I have received from President Bush and Vice President

Cheney, the fact that there are other people that are suffering every bit as much as I am, and that our whole nation is going through a tragedy together, I think we have to think about those things. Ted Olson In the beginning, it wasn't even a question of deciding I'm going to do independent film and not commercial films - I wasn't being offered any commercial films, and there wasn't an independent scene. Steve Buscemi Thousands across America are glued to their web cast to hear this. And actually, I've never met one human being who said that they had seen one of those. Spencer Abraham When I left HEEP I didn't know what I wanted! It took me a long time to adjust to life away from the band and the only thing I knew was that I didn't want to repeat my mistakes! Ken Hensley I used to work a lot on food issues and every time somebody predicted that production would be inadequate they got egg on their face a year or two later. Susan George Someti...

We can't fool ourselves that they will ever be enough to overthrow Capitalism. If we're

serious about that we need to organise ourselves in our workplaces and communities, making the links with other workers internationally. John Blair I'll never get used to living without Mo, but the painful things that surround what happened to him aren't so painful any more-not so raw or so new. Robin Gibb When I was growing up, it was 'Communists'. Now it's 'Terrorists'. So you always have to have somebody to fight and be afraid of, so the war machine can build more bombs, guns, and bullets and everything. Cindy Sheehan We have to make sure that we are a force for peace and stability in the world, and that we're prepared to defend freedom and the security of the American people. Thad Cochran I think people are entitled to march without a permit. When you have a few hundred thousand people on the street you have permission. Tom Hayden Never rise to speak till you have something to say; and when you have said it, cease. John Witherspoon ...

I was a Scout years ago, before the movement started, when my father took me

fishing, camping and hunting. Then I was sorry that more girls could not have what I had. When I learned of the movement, I thought, here is what I always wanted other girls to have. Lou Henry Hoover I thank the Creator of the universe to have discovered the discipline of music was the greatest gift that I could have been given, the possibility to be a student working in the world. Anthony Braxton You know, it's not the world that was my oppressor, because what the world does to you, if the world does it to you long enough and effectively enough, you begin to do to yourself. James A. Baldwin It now becomes clear why the Bush Administration has been vigorously opposing congressional hearings. The Bush Administration has been engaged in a conspiracy of silence. Cynthia McKinney I was obsessed with romance. When I was in high school, I saw 'Doctor Zhivago' every day from the day it opened until the day it left the theater. John Hughes Just what you want to be, y...

The idea of physical strain and discipline, the question of how and when you leave

that life behind - they're things I'm familiar with on one level or another. Katie Kitamura In politics, you've got to have a fallback in our line of work because your career can be over in an instant. Not that I would make much money playing a harmonica. Tim Kaine I get a stack of scripts, like, once a month, and most of the time, you find these placeholder girls that are there to provide a bounce for the male character. So we know he's funny because she's serious and she's mad at him. We know he's strong because she needs saving. So really, her job is to validate this personality trait of our hero or male. Amber Heard Germans have an understanding of history and cannot allow themselves to forget it. It may be a curse, but in some ways, it's a blessing. It makes them cautious. Simon Rattle If the angel Gabriel came to me and said, 'Look, I'm willing to take your soul now and give it back to you at any period of time in the history of...

If you... scaled down human beings, scaled down society, if you land with a group

of little boys, they are more like a scaled-down version of society than a group of little girls would be. William Golding I've been performing since I was a child; my mother would have to pull me aside and tell me that I wasn't onstage. I was a cheerleader, president of choir, and in the school play. Aja Naomi King I am a very strong supporter of our government's view that it is important to engage with all countries around the world - very much including Russia. Chrystia Freeland I was wrapping up my stint on 'Daredevil' co-writing with Andy Diggle during the Shadowland story, when Marvel asked if I was interested in doing something else with DD but a bit different. When they explained the purpose of the 'Season One' books, I was intrigued - I'm a big advocate of books for people new to the medium - and said yes. Antony Johnston Spike Lee gave me the greatest reaction to the fact that I was this athlete-meets-artist, because I think he saw ...

The PhD system is the real root of the evil of academic snobbery. People who

have PhDs consider themselves a priesthood, and inventors generally don't have PhDs. Freeman Dyson I don't know nothing about communism. But I know the Albanians loved me. Same reason as anyone else loves me. Because I made them laugh. Norman Wisdom I am proud to be an American, and proud that such beliefs are at the core of our country and its citizens. John Linder I have tried for much of my life to write as if I was composing my sentences to be read posthumously. Christopher Hitchens I think it's not inaccurate to say that I had a perfectly happy childhood during which I was very unhappy. Joss Whedon People that have been interested in our work for awhile... those are the last people you want to disappoint. Joel Coen I write music people enjoy playing and listening to, and I have a group that loves playing the music. Chuck Mangione Our choices are going to determine the future for our children, our children's children, and their children. I take ...

I will continue my activities related to education in one way or another. I certainly

would have at the top my agenda, with respect to education, the need to do much better with modern educational technology. Major Owens The impulse of the journalist is to be novel, yet to relate his curiosities to the urgencies of the moment; the philosopher seeks what he conceives to be true, regardless of the moment. Daniel Bell I don't let people use me. That's why I like a small number of people in my life. The more people in my life, the more complex it becomes, so I just try to keep it at a minimum. Anita Baker I am certain that most composers today would consider today's music to be rich, not to say confusing, in its enormous diversity of styles, technical procedures, and systems of esthetics. George Crumb An excuse becomes an obstacle in your journey to success when it is made in place of your best effort or when it is used as the object of the blame. Bo Bennett HBO is really famous for hiring good people and staying out of their way until they ask fo...

A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the

need to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood. Leo Rosten I can't discriminate? Oh, that's ripe, coming from a straight white man. What's the matter, baby doesn't feel like he belongs? Well why don't you try a place that was set up just for you? Like the world! Lea DeLaria First of all, we were never not speaking. It's gotten so blown out of proportion. It was a very straightforward difference of opinion. I think because we were so private and refused to talk about it, these stories just got out of control. Julie Nixon Eisenhower My advice to anyone adapting a novel is that once they've read it and learnt to understand it, then they must throw it away and never look at it again! Ben Elton It's a good thing that when God created the rainbow he didn't consult a decorator or he would still be picking colors. Sam Levenson On gym days, I don't get to my de...

It was really great to also see the response that people were having to 'Treme'

'cause you're in a vacuum when you're on a TV show. You see the response online, you read about it and all of that, but actually to be live and have that many thousands of fans come out, it's really wonderful. Wendell Pierce I never look at the size of the film when I'm looking for a part. Eric Bana I only watch MSNBC for the news. Andre Leon Talley I married my wife because I love her and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Michael Schiavo In the '70s I was in exile; every time I went back I wondered if they'd take my passport away. Tahar Ben Jelloun If one can only see things according to one's own belief system, one is destined to become virtually deaf, dumb, and blind. Robert Anton Wilson The individual who signs the check has the ultimate power. Jerry Rubin You've got to make it a good example for those kids regardless of how much you mess up. Fantasia Barrino Anything to do with the land, I love. Chris LeDoux ...

Show business is one of the few businesses that the devil will actually agree to

own just a portion of your soul because he knows if you have a performer's ego you were probably working for him all along. Marc Maron I like everything perfect. Everything has to be neat. My sister is 5, and she's more messy than I am. I make my bed every morning, everything's perfect. My shoes are all arranged. It's sad. I'm a little like Ray, a little bit. Dakota Fanning All we know is that, at times, fighting the Russians, we had to remove the piles of enemy bodies from before our trenches, so as to get a clear field of fire against new waves of assault. Paul von Hindenburg Once you have mastered time, you will understand how true it is that most people overestimate what they can accomplish in a year - and underestimate what they can achieve in a decade! Tony Robbins My politics are of a practical kind - the integrity of the country, the supremacy of the Federal government, an honorable peace, or none at all. Winfield Scott Hancock He who knows ho...