"Unfortunately, there are so many people who live their whole life in a place that is safe and protected and simple and they don't really have that strength inside to fly."

"The biggest lesson from Africa was that life's joys come mostly from relationships and friendships, not from material things. I saw time and again how much fun Africans had with their families and friends and on the sports fields they laughed all the time."

"When you start suppressing feelings at an early age, it hurts you down the road. Full expression of anger and pain is very important."

"Fear is that thing that keeps you up there on that other plateau. Fear is that thing that just keeps you closed down, and quite frankly, alone."

"Plant the seed of desire in your mind and it forms a nucleus with power to attract to itself everything needed for its fulfillment."

"I think what I would say to my younger self, and probably to younger, just starting-out writers is that a lot of times you're just afraid to put yourself out there, and it's uncomfortable because it's working up the courage to do something, to push yourself to do those things."

"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live."

"It is well for people who think to change their minds occasionally in order to keep them clean. For those who do not think, it is best at least to rearrange their prejudices once in a while."