Newt Gingrich has a restless and outsized intelligence that is tragically unleavened by any kind of critical sensibility.

I never think of myself as wise. I think of myself as possessing a critical intelligence which I intend to allow to operate.

Well the fact is that one imagination is critically important and if you have had your imagination stimulated by what is basically a variety of subjects you are much more amenable to accepting to understanding and interacting with the realities of the world.

To my mind the boy who gives least promise is one in whom the critical faculty develops in advance of the imagination.

The imagination imitates. It is the critical spirit that creates.

I don't care what other critics say I only hope to be played.

House and Senate Republicans are now united in adopting earmark bans. We hope President Obama will follow through on his support for an earmark ban by pressing Democratic leaders to join House and Senate Republicans in taking this critical step to restore public trust.

I had in mind a message although I hope it doesn't intrude too badly persuading Americans and especially Southerners of the critical importance of land and our vanishing natural environment and wildlife.

In the later books I am much more at home in the use of language to describe things. I had never thought of that until a critic pointed that out.

Oh stuff the critics. I don't care. Too many people are snooty about classical. Look I wasn't brought up in a home where we listened to classical music. It was a singing teacher that thought it would be best for my voice. Then I moved into crossover. And if that makes the music accessible to more people then great.