It’s tough to come up with something that doesn’t sound too pompous or overbearing or directive. The biggest thing I’m satisfied with his my family and my friends.

Do you know what the Ten Commandments are? If you follow them you will have a good path. Avoid the sins.

Sir Winston Churchill was invited to give the commencement address at Oxford University where he made the shortest speech on record. He came in with his usual top hat, cane, and cigar. He goes up to the podium, puts down his cigar and says: “never give up!”

He put his head on, picked up his cane, put his cigar in his mouth and walked out.

Perseverance. There is a thing called press-on. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it or not. I give it to people who are going into business. It basically says that no matter how educated you are or how smart you are the only thing that will always bring you success is perseverance. Just keep going. Press on. Never give up. And unless you have an excellent memory, never lie.

There is one thing that I’ve done with my kids that I would suggest to other parents.

When the kids were big enough to make their own decisions I used to tell them that if they asked me for my advice I would be very glad to give it to them.

I told them if they didn’t use it they wouldn’t hurt my feelings.

And if you don’t ask me, you won’t hurt my feelings either.

In general I won’t bother you at all. But if I see you running over a cliff I am going to grab you because I’m a father.

That’s developed over time and I think it’s a good way to bring up kids. I think it’s good to have your kids feel that you are another pair of ears. They should feel that they can tell you something and it won’t go in any way further. Or they should be able to ask you questions that they can’t ask of other people. That makes me feel very, very good when the kids do that.
Funnybones

When the kids were small we would put salt in the sugar and things like that. All my kids have a good sense of humor; we enjoy things but I can’t think of a specific spectacular item.