Jimmy Breslin

"People remember how you made them feel, not what you said."

"Courage is not the absence of fear; it's walking straight into the neighborhoods where others won't go."

"Tell the truth and let the politicians explain themselves."

"The best stories come from listening to ordinary people tell extraordinary lives."

"You have to love what you do, or it shows in every word."

"A city without character is just a collection of buildings."

"Never write about something you don't understand, but always write about something that matters."

"Life is messy, and if your writing is clean, you're not telling the truth."

"The poor have stories the rich will never know."

"Good writing requires patience and a willingness to fail repeatedly."

"You learn more from failure than from any success."

"Democracy depends on people who will ask hard questions."

"A handshake means something; honor your word."

"The real New York is in the neighborhoods, not the tourist attractions."

"Power corrupts those who forget where they came from."

"Write what you know, but spend your life getting to know important things."

"Friendship is forged in difficult times, not in celebration."

"History is written by those who show up with a notebook."

"The measure of a society is how it treats its poorest citizens."

"Never lose your sense of humor; it's your greatest survival tool."

"Change comes from people willing to be uncomfortable."

"A good day is when you've told one true story."

"Family is the first institution you learn about; pay attention."

"Time is the only currency that matters; spend it wisely."

"Every person you meet has something to teach you if you listen."

"The best leaders are the ones who listen more than they talk."

"Dreams without action are just fantasies."

"Beauty is found in unexpected places if you're paying attention."

"Patience is the virtue of those who understand how the world really works."

"Strength comes from standing up when you've been knocked down."