At home in Ireland, there's a habit of avoidance, an ironical attitude towards the authority figure.

Hope is not optimism, which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good worth working for.

Believe that a further shore is reachable from here.

Even if the hopes you started out with are dashed, hope has to be maintained.

Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done.

I can't think of a case where poems changed the world, but what they do is they change people's understanding of what's going on in the world.

If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way.

History says, Don’t hope On this side of the grave, But then, once in a lifetime The longed-for tidal wave Of justice can rise up, And hope and history rhyme

Poetry is always slightly mysterious, and you wonder what is your relationship to it.

All I know is a door into the dark

I have begun to think of life as a series of ripples widening out from an original center.

Encourage literally came from "in courage." The courage is put "into" you from outside. Our character and abilities grow through internalizing from others what we do not possess in ourselves.

Shut up, Ray.

Humans are social creatures that really crave intimacy.

Having a 2 year old is like having a blender that you don't have the top for.

With bass, especially bottom end, the vibration has to happen on stage otherwise the feel is wrong. This is why you can't scale the equipment down too far.

It is much easier to wear a cross than to bear a cross.

I started writing songs, I guess, when I was about 13 or 14, but I didn't know if they were good enough yet or anything.

I supported the assault weapon ban.

I want to see 10 female rappers getting regular rotation. It can't be all about a man's opinion.

Even in rags I am a god,fallen I am divine,high I triumph when down-trod,long I live when slain!