I have a collective sense of suffering.

The required cheerfulness that characterizes many of our churches produces a suffocating environment of pat, religious answers to the painful, complex questions that riddle the lives of hurting people.

My family and friends were definitely the key to my recovery. One thing that I do suggest is that anyone dealing with a life-threatening illness like cancer choose a point person for people to call to find out how you are doing - a sister, brother, mother, father, daughter, son, or close friend.

I am not suggesting that all those missionary organizations working in Haiti should pack up and go home, but I am urging them to understand that Haiti does not need clever Americans with newly contrived schemes for saving their country.

Never attempt to murder a man who is committing suicide.

Personally, I always loved the 1 p.m. Sunday games.

It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.

One of the most beautiful compensations in life is that no person can help another without helping themselves

Go forth into the busy world and love it. Interest yourself in its life, mingle kindly with its joys and sorrows.

The purpose of life seems to be to acquaint a man with himself and whatever science or art or course of action he engages in reacts upon and illuminates the recesses of his own mind. Thus friends seem to be only mirrors to draw out and explain to us ourselves; and that which draws us nearer our fellow man, is, that the deep Heart in one, answers the deep Heart in another, -- that we find we have (a common Nature) -- one life which runs through all individuals, and which is indeed Divine.

arts become frivolous. Science grows cold and inhumane. There are no heroes, only celebrities. Social bonds are broken. People no longer care for each other, but only for what they can get from each other.