All too many Muslims fail to grasp Islam which teaches one to be lenient towards others and to understand their value systems knowing that these are tolerated by Islam as a religion.

One of the things that is wrong with religion is that it teaches us to be satisfied with answers which are not really answers at all.

I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.

My relationship with Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm reaches far back into my childhood. I grew up with Grimm's fairy tales. I even saw a theater production of 'Tom Thumb' during Advent at the State Theater in Danzig which my mother took me to see.

Poetry teaches us music metaphor condensation and specificity.

Part of what we love about poetry is the fact that it seems ancient that it has an authority of ancient language and ancient form and that it's timeless that it reaches back.

A dog teaches a boy fidelity perseverance and to turn around three times before lying down.

Aside from what it teaches you there is simply the indescribable degree of peace that can be achieved on a sailing vessel at sea. I guess a combination of hard work and the seemingly infinite expanse of the sea - the profound solitude - that does it for me.

Most of the approaches to peace between Israel and the Palestinians have been directed at trying to resolve the most complex problems like refugees and Jerusalem which is akin to building the pyramid from the top down.

Islam teaches tolerance not hatred universal brotherhood not enmity peace and not violence.