"The central benefit of Zen, in the context of ordinary ups and downs of life,is not in preventing the minus and promoting the plus,but in directing people to the fundamental reality that is not under the sway of ups and downs."

“My main ambition in life is to be on the Devil's most wanted list.”

“I've been trained in dancing and I used to be quite good, though I am a bit rusty right now. But I could probably brush up in a couple of months.”

“Fate does not invite ugly boring people to save the world; and if you do try to save the world (without being beautiful, strong, clever, or wise), you will soon die pointlessly and how much adventure is there in that?”

Source : James Alan Gardner (2014). “Ascending”, p.7, Open Road Media

“I don't know which I like best. I love the applause on the stage. But pictures are so fascinating - you reach many millions through them. And you make more money too.”

“We are not creatures of circumstance; we are creators of circumstance.”

“You never know what you will learn till you start writing. Then you discover truths you never knew existed.”

“White is poison to a picture: use it only in highlights.”

“Is it not the business of the conductor to convey to the public in its dramatic form the central idea of a composition; and how can he convey that idea successfully if he does not enter heart and soul into the life of the music and the tale it unfolds?”