I knew what real instruments I wanted and, in some cases, who I wanted to play them. I had started listening to a lot of ambient music and jazz and I wanted to incorporate stuff like that, too.

I always start with the lyrics, because starting with the music means the words will be bad.

I can't fool myself into thinking that musically I don't need other people, whether it's as a foil or just to come in and make real the ideas that are kind of vague and wispy in my head.

I'm not really sure that I have the same definition of things as other people. Like, when people talk about being "engaged" with the audience, I'm not exactly sure what they mean.

I don't banter with the audience, cause I don't have anything to say to them, and I'm not feeling any sense of ease or camaraderie when I'm on stage.

I like putting common expressions next to uncommon expressions. I'm sure in Poetry 101 there is a name for it, but it seems like you usually go one way or the other in rock music.

Kaputt was just a record that did really well for us, and therefore our record label and our booking agent said that we should go out and take our message to the world.

The more I abandon ideas of myself as a musician, the better a singer I become.

Once you feel like you can safely quit a melody, you are free to explore more important things.

I've never had any kind of work ethic. I've never sat down with the intention of writing a song.

I'm just kind of lazy and messed up and self-managed - self-mismanaged.

It is one thing to be clever and another to be wise.

Everything about Christianity is contained in the pathetic image of 'the flock.

Let us be awake and live every moment of our precious, loving, and spontaneous life.

Donald Trump believes that climate change is a hoax. Now, this is not just a stupid expression, but it is incredibly dangerous.

Earnestness is the best gift of mental power, and deficiency of heart is the cause of many men never becoming great.

There is only one constant element in immunity, whether innate or acquired, and that is phagocytosis. The extension and importance of this factor can no longer be denied.

Music should never be a job. It should be your hopes, your dreams and everything you believe in.

I've made up so many stores about my name, I can't remember.

Forgiveness is a game only saints play Kabir.

I give up on spending time on these courts; I give up on practicing before the tournament I hate. I hate this.