Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Perhaps love is the process of my leading you gently back to yourself.

It is better to fail at your own life than to succeed at someone else’s.

Our life before moving to Washington was filled with simple joys. Saturdays at soccer games, Sundays at Grandma’s house. And a date night for Barack and me was either dinner or a movie, because as an exhausted mom, I couldn’t stay awake for both. He was still the guy who’d picked me up for our dates in a car that was so rusted out, I could actually see the pavement going by through a hole in the passenger-side door.

I’m beginning to understand myself. But it would have been great to be able to understand myself when I was 20 rather than when I was 82.

He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself.

Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of witnesses.

I have dined with kings, I’ve been offered wings. And I’ve never been too impressed.

Do you wish people to think well of you? Don’t speak of yourself.

Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism — how passionately I hate them!

All systems either of preference or of restraint … completely taken away, the obvious and simple system of natural liberty establishes itself of its own accord. Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interest in his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man.

2 is not equal to 3, not even for large values of 2.

It doesn’t matter how long my hair is or what colour my skin is or whether I’m a woman or a man.

It is a most mortifying reflection for a man to consider what he has done, compared to what he might have done.

Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.

Whatever it is, people who have more spare time than people ever had before get the sense of whirlwind pressure,and repeat the common criticism that ‘we are going too fast.’ Yet the people live longer than ever before, live with less effort, live on a higher plane. Is it possible that this common saying about our rapid pace is just another thoughtless mob suggestion?

An idea can turn to dust or magic, depending on the talent that rubs against it.