What I respect as far as in myself and in others is the spirit of just doing it. For better or worse it may work and it may not but I'm going to go for it. Ultimately I probably prefer to be respected for that than whether it works out or not either winning or losing.

Every individual has a place to fill in the world and is important in some respect whether he chooses to be so or not.

And I used to think that proof that I had religion was whether I knew how to sing all of the songs.

Well the first time I ran into the term religion people were asking whether you had any. You know some people had religion and some people didn't have religion.

Religion is interesting because it brings out the best and the worst in humanity. It can be a source of good deeds whether it's people from different spiritual backgrounds coming together to help other people in need after a crisis. But it's also a cause for war and bloodshed.

I think we have to believe in things we don't see. That's really important for all of us whether it's your religion or Santa Claus or whatever. That's pretty much what it's about.

Haven't two hundred years of failed missionary work overseas taught anybody anything? You can't convert people to anything - whether religion or something as inane as our flicks.

The biological evolutionary perception of life and of human qualities is radically different from that of traditional religion whether it's Southern Baptist or Islam or any religion that believes in a supernatural supervalance over humanity.

Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion self-discipline that's important. Self-discipline with awareness of consequences.

Whether one believes in a religion or not and whether one believes in rebirth or not there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.

Whether you're keeping a journal or writing as a meditation it's the same thing. What's important is you're having a relationship with your mind.

You'll be dedicated and that's what you should want to be in anything in life - whether it's sports or academics or your relationship. It all stems from finding that fun that thrill that excitement.

People who supported Obama felt like they formed a relationship that they were being spoken to. The way that campaign worked and the way he's worked during his first term is to make people feel like he's grasping their hand whether it's by tweeting or email moments after an event sometimes during an event. It makes people relate to him.

No agent wants to see a book until he or she has decided whether to pursue the relationship.

If you look back on the breakups that you've had whether it's a long relationship or a one-night stand it's always awkward.

I've always loved the old epics that tell a simple emotional story whether it's the tumultuous relationship between Rhett and Scarlett or Lawrence of Arabia's passion to get lost in a faraway place.

It's like a garden: Whatever you water the most will do the best. At some point you decide whether you'll water your career or your relationship more.

But I think the real tension lies in the relationship between what you might call the pursuer and his quarry whether it's the writer or the spy.

It is always a disappointment to turn from forthright consideration of some subject - whether from the Left or the Right a poet or a plumber - to the Beltway version in which the only aspects of the issue that matter are the effects it will have on the fortunes of the two parties and the various men in power.

Almost all first ladies have had tremendous power on personnel issues whether the public realized it or not whether it was Barbara Bush or Nancy Reagan or whoever.

Whether it comes from a despotic sovereign or an elected president from a murderous general or a beloved leader I see power as an inhuman and hateful phenomenon.

I am more and more convinced that man is a dangerous creature and that power whether vested in many or a few is ever grasping and like the grave cries 'Give give.'

Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue no matter whether he be a prince or one of the people.

They say the test of literary power is whether a man can write an inscription. I say 'Can he name a kitten?'