Painting is complete as a distraction. I know of nothing which, without exhausting the body, more entirely absorbs the mind. Whatever the worries of the hour or the threats of the future, once the picture has begun to flow along, there is no room for them in the mental screen. They pass out into shadow and darkness. All one's mental light, such as it is, becomes concentrated on the task. Time stands respectfully aside, and it is only after many hesitations that luncheon knocks gruffly at the door.

Laurel and I collaborated with director Katherine Helen Fisher and other talented artists on the dance film REVEL IN YOUR BODY and that continues to screen all over the world

Beyond that, editing an anthology gives me a chance to find a few new readers for my colleagues’ excellent work.

I'm making cheap electricity,

There is a dignity associated with people, no matter where the hell they come from — whether they come from Italy or Ireland or Germany or Asia or Africa.

I’ve always found Hail Marys to be a great refuge when you’re facing tough decisions and crises of one kind or another.

Now, part of that is the Jesuits at Santa Clara, who taught me about right and wrong. But part of it was just that gut feeling.

there was no way I could have accomplished the bin Laden operation without the help of Special Forces

Love of family is something that is renewed in me every time I see them.

When I have a sense that things are screwed up, and I’m just not sure whether or not we’ll find an answer, the thing I do is usually sit at the piano, and I play a song by Beethoven called Para Elisa (Für Elise)