My father had extravagant notions of my beauty, grace, wit, and charm.

Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever sunlight remains to them?

When you hold your baby in your arms the first time, and you think of all the things you can say and do to influence him, it's a tremendous responsibility. What you do with him can influence not only him, but everyone he meets and not for a day or a month or a year but for time and eternity.

I tell myself that God gave my children many gifts - spirit, beauty, intelligence, the capacity to make friends and to inspire respect. There was only one gift he held back - length of life.

I've had an exciting time; I married for love and got a little money along with it.

It is selfish to concern oneself with tragedies.

I have come to the conclusion that the most important element in human life is faith.

Neither comprehension nor learning can take place in an atmosphere of anxiety.

My husband changed jobs so fast that I simply never knew what business he was in.

I'm one of the most fortunate people in the world.

Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments.

In my relations with my husband, there was never any deceit... he never said he was going out on business; he would say he was going to a show, and I would say, 'Fine.'

Sometimes I wonder if there is something about my family which invites violence. 'Is it envy,' you ask? I don't know... I've had so much, a son as president, two as senators, a son-in-law who's an ambassador... perhaps God doesn't permit that much.

Prosperity tries the fortunate, adversity the great.

Make sure you never, never argue at night. You just lose a good night's sleep, and you can't settle anything until morning anyway.

What greater aspiration and challenge are there for a mother than the hope of raising a great son or daughter?

I'm like old wine. They don't bring me out very often - but I'm well preserved.

I have come to the conclusion that the most important element in human life is faith.

Now I am in my eighties, and I have known the joys and sorrows of a full life. Age, however, has its privileges. One is to reminisce, and another is to reminisce selectively.