I'm fully aware that things that resonate and become real hits are the exception to the rule so much so that I've wired myself for failure.

I firmly believe that all human beings have access to extraordinary energies and powers. Judging from accounts of mystical experience heightened creativity or exceptional performance by athletes and artists we harbor a greater life than we know.

From the naturalistic point of view all men are equal. There are only two exceptions to this rule of naturalistic equality: geniuses and idiots.

Everything that everyone is afraid of has already happened: The fragility of capitalism which we don't want to admit the loss of the empire of the United States and American exceptionalism. In fact American exceptionalism is that we are exceptionally backward in about fifteen different categories from education to infrastructure.

Nothing is absolute with the debatable exceptions of this statement and death.

A Shakespearean tragedy as so far considered may be called a story of exceptional calamity leading to the death of a man in high estate. But it is clearly much more than this and we have now to regard it from another side.

Last year my boyfriend gave me a painting - a very personal one. I really prefer personal gifts or ones made by someone for me. Except diamonds. That's the exception to the rule.

My kids love it. I thought I was the coolest dad in the world when I got to be in a Bond film but 'Harry Potter' too? Well I think I qualify for a medal for exceptional parenting or something don't you?

The single outstanding exception was the broad yet precise mandate communicated by the General Assembly in 1946 to prepare as soon as possible the Charter of Human Rights which the San Francisco Conference had not had the time or the courage to draw up.

The qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker: an abiding passion for the task courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance.

I want to find the candidates who understand the principles of American exceptionalism and have the character the courage and the confidence to actually lead the greatest nation in the world.

As human beings we are vulnerable to confusing the unprecedented with the improbable. In our everyday experience if something has never happened before we are generally safe in assuming it is not going to happen in the future but the exceptions can kill you and climate change is one of those exceptions.

To not be modest about it you'll find that with only a couple of exceptions most of the musicians that I've worked with have done their best work by far with me.

It is always the best policy to speak the truth unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar.

I believe that history has shape order and meaning that exceptional men as much as economic forces produce change and that passe abstractions like beauty nobility and greatness have a shifting but continuing validity.

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception it is a prevailing attitude.

Dying is an art like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell. I do it so it feels real. I guess you could say I've a call.