The current state of knowledge is a moment in history changing just as rapidly as the state of knowledge in the past has ever changed and in many instances more rapidly.

Part of what I loved - and love - about being around older people is the tangible sense of history they embody. I'm interested in military history for instance because both my grandfathers fought in World War II. I'm interested in writing because one of those grandfathers wrote books.

The history of progress is written in the blood of men and women who have dared to espouse an unpopular cause as for instance the black man's right to his body or woman's right to her soul.

The concern right now is that families are paying for insurance or getting insurance from their employer and trusting that health care will be available for their families. In too many instances now the care they need isn't available.

Manners is the key thing. Say for instance when you're growing up you're walking down the street you've got to tell everybody good morning. Everybody. You can't pass one person.

I don't think that there is absolute freedom of the press. We operate under laws - against libel for instance. The idea that there is some absolute press freedom is kind of a myth.

Bush is morally a universalist. For instance he says the freedom is good the same thing is good all over the world. So in that sense he's a universalist.

I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.

When I do a 30-minute meal for instance on Food Network that's my food you see at the end of the show and it's not perfect. And if sometimes things break or drop or the pasta hits the wall when I'm draining it they never stop tape. They just kind of let me go with it.

In my particular instance I came from a family that didn't have anything. Everything I earned in life I made. Myself. With songs that I wrote.