I'm a big believer than a great bit is a great bit - if I go and see someone I love, like Robert Klein. I want to hear some classics and some new stuff. But a great stand-up bit takes a long time to really polish and perfect, and they're beautiful things when they're done.

I'm a big believer in big books, and that doesn't necessarily mean long books.

I'm a big believer in pairing classics with contemporary literature, so students have the opportunity to see that literature is not a cold, dead thing that happened once but instead a vibrant mode of storytelling that's been with us a long time - and will be with us, I hope, for a long time to come.

I'm a big believer in spontaneity.

I always believe in doing new things and using new materials that I have never used or that I didn't like for a long time.

I'm a big believer in overcoming and achieving and doing things and not feeling sorry for yourself.