We are living at a time when creeds and ideologies vary and clash. But the gospel of human sympathy is universal and eternal.

Excess of grief for the dead is madness for it is an injury to the living and the dead know it not.

My ambition was to stop waiting tables. That was how I measured success: finally I was able to stop waiting tables and I was able to pay the rent and that was by being a stand-up comic. Not a very good stand-up comic but good enough to make a living.

Success is not a destination but the road that you're on. Being successful means that you're working hard and walking your walk every day. You can only live your dream by working hard towards it. That's living your dream.

Put paying your dues and all that puts so much into being a success. You have an understanding of what it's about being on your own for three or four years and living day to day on $3 or living in an apartment with no electricity.

As my father used to tell me the only true sign of success in life is being able to do for a living that which makes you happy.

Your success story is a bigger story than whatever you're trying to say on stage. Success makes life easier. It doesn't make living easier.

From this process has emerged a parallel process of translating traditional working and living values into a new political and economic power - a power increasingly based upon the strength of money and those material things money can purchase.

But my strength was in singing and songwriting which was a new discovery for me when I was 18. And I decided if I pursued songwriting which is what was closest to my heart then there would be no competition. I would just live my life being myself and living my dream.

You had no right to be born for you make no use of life. Instead of living for in and with yourself as a reasonable being ought you seek only to fasten your feebleness on some other person's strength.