“You can never be happy until you understand why you're doing what you're doing.”

“It doesn't matter what you can do if you don't know why you're doing it.”

“When people see you're happy doing what you're doing, it sort of takes the power away from them to tease you about it.”

“you should not run for president because tactically you can win. The questions you have to ask are why you're running for president and what will you do when you are president. You shouldn't run until you know the answers to those questions.”

“You're never ready for what you have to do. You just do it. That makes you ready.”

“You're a witness. You're always standing around watching what's happening, scribbling in your book what other people do. You have to get in the middle of it. You have to take sides. Make a contribution to the fight. Any fight. The one you believe in. Until you do, you'll never be a writer, Eugene.”