After I left the White House I kept a foothold in the business of American politics as a talk-show host analyst commentator speechmaker and occasional writer. I was no longer a practitioner but I was still a partisan a Democrat a blue-stater through and through.

That they may have a little peace even the best dogs are compelled to snarl occasionally.

The best government is a benevolent tyranny tempered by an occasional assassination.

The pattern of a newspaperman's life is like the plot of 'Black Beauty.' Sometimes he finds a kind master who gives him a dry stall and an occasional bran mash in the form of a Christmas bonus sometimes he falls into the hands of a mean owner who drives him in spite of spavins and expects him to live on potato peelings.

I came back to performing with a different attitude about performing and myself. I wasn't expecting perfection any more just hoping for an occasional inspiration.

I drank for about 25 years getting over the loss of my father and I took the anger out on myself. I did a good job at beating myself up at sometimes. I don't drink anymore but my alcoholic head occasionally says different. 'Nil By Mouth' was a love letter to my father because I needed to resolve some issues in order to be able to forgive him.

Before 'Twilight ' occasionally I would get the 'Hey are you that girl from that movie?' but no one knew my first and last name. The fans of the saga are amazing and it's very flattering.

As I've gotten older I've occasionally found myself nostalgic for earlier periods of solitude though I realize that's also likely a false nostalgia as I know there was nothing I wanted more during those periods than to not be alone whatever that means.

It would do the world good if every man would compel himself occasionally to be absolutely alone. Most of the world s progress has come out of such loneliness.

A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone.