“May I be an enemy to no one and the friend of what abides eternally.May I never quarrel with those nearest me, and be reconciled quickly if I should. May I never plot evil against others, and if anyone plot evil against me, may I escape unharmed and without the need to hurt anyone else.May I love, seek and attain only what is good. May I desire happiness for all and harbor envy for none.May I never find joy in the misfortune of one who has wronged me.May I never wait for the rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make reparation.May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent.May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other.May I, insofar as I can, give all necessary help to my friends and to all who are in need.May I never fail a friend in trouble.May I be able to soften the pain of the grief stricken and give them comforting words.May I respect myself.May I always maintain control of my emotions.May I habituate myself to be gentle, and never angry with others because of circumstances.May I never discuss the wicked or what they have done, but know good people and follow in their footsteps. [Prayer to practice the Golden Rule]”

“May I gain no victory that harms me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are mad at each other. May I, insofar as I can, give all necessary help to my friends and to all who are in need. May I never fail a friend in trouble.-- Prayer on the Golden Rule (abridged)”

“Grant, O Lord my God, that I may never fall away in success or in failure; that I may not be prideful in prosperity nor dejected in adversity. Let me rejoice only in what unites us and sorrow only in what separates us. May I strive to please no one or fear to displease anyone except Yourself. May I see always the things that are eternal and never those that are only temporal. May I shun any joy that is without You and never seek any that is beside You. O Lord, may I delight in any work I do for You and tire of any rest that is apart from You. My God, let me direct my heart towards You, and in my failings, always repent with a purpose of amendment.”

“I believe that a good children's book should appeal to all people who have not completely lost their original joy and wonder in life. The fact is that I don't make books for children at all. I make them for that part of us, of myself and of my friends, which has never changed, which is still a child.”

“I have never deceived anyone, for I have never belonged to anyone. My independence was all my wealth: I have known no other happiness.”

“There’s something about her—Cassel, I have met many evil men and women in my life. I have made deals with them, drank with them. I have done things that I myself have difficulty reconciling—terrible things. But I have never known anyone like your mother. She is a person without limits—or if she has any, she hasn’t found them yet. She never needs to reconcile anything.”