We were never a family that had a lot. We had enough but not a lot.

Whenever I have friends over we end up eating and talking and losing track of time and once in a while singing karaoke. It reminds me of the family meals we had in Russia which always lasted a very long time. That's a tradition I miss.

Music was your real passion this thing you held dear even above family. It was this relationship that never betrayed you. Once it became your job - this thing that was highly visible this thing that became about commerce - that's when you were holding onto music like it was a palm tree in a hurricane.

I wanted the players to feel like they were part of a family to be conscious of that controlled togetherness as they made that slow entrance onto the field. It had a great psychological effect on the opposing team too. They'd never seen anything like it.

No doubt the White House thinks the American people know Obama's story. But since the Inauguration we've seen only the president's present: his perfect family his Ivy League elegance his effortless mastery of complex issues. We never see him sweat. And we forget that he ever had to struggle.

My family's lineage is five generations of artists who never made it.

I came from a poor family so working and going to school at the same time was natural. It taught me multi-tasking although we didn't call it that back then. I learned I could never be idle I need to be doing many things at once.

One thing that was passed on from generation to generation in my family over seven generations in 200 years was never give up. That's the way we live.

You know my family and friends have never been yes-men: 'Yes you're doing the right thing you're always right.' No they tell me when I'm wrong and that's why I've been able to stay who I am and stay humble.

I've never had a divorce but I've seen so many of my friends my sister my family go through that stuff so I try to write for the people that can't write about it. I take on their sorrow so I'm able to kind of express it or their joy.

I've been so fortunate in my life that my family has never been jealous of my success. They have shown true love and commitment to me by being supportive. They shared in it.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.

My family and I would never receive royalties on the revenue that my materials brought into the church materials that were created on our own personal time.

No one really wants to admit they are lonely and it is never really addressed very much between friends and family. But I have felt lonely many times in my life.

My restaurants are never opened on Thanksgiving I want my staff to spend time with their family if they can. My feeling is if I can't figure out how to make money the rest of the year so that my workers can enjoy the holidays then I don't deserve to be an owner.

All the laws and legislation in the world will never heal this world like the loving hearts and arms of mothers and fathers. If every child could drift to sleep feeling wrapped in the love of their family - and God's love - this world would be a far more gentle and better place.

Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people - your family friends and coworkers and even strangers you meet along the way.