I liked the name Saadiq and didn't want to be known as an artist as Raphael Wiggins.

If you want to be like the greats, you learn from the greats.

When you love what you do, it pays off, and that's the best reward you could have.

The way to stay inspired and motivated is by doing what you like, doing what you love.

If you really love music, people can tell if you love music. You have to just stick with it.

It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. It's addictive.

I just follow great people. If you want to play like a pro, you learn from the pros.

I'm using more energy than ever.

Frustrations are going to be there in every profession you're in.

Isaac Hayes told me once, 'There's no such thing as old-school. Either you went to school or you didn't.'

I've always loved people that's been around for a long time, like old shoes.

What are friends for, if not to help bear our sins?

I'd never be where I am if more successful writers hadn't taken an interest in me and done me a good turn.

The great achievements of the past were the adventures of the past. Only the adventurous can understand the greatness of the past.

Just because you like my stuff doesn't mean I owe you anything.

The permanency of most friendships depends upon the continuity of good fortune.

Once you've put one of his [Henry James] books down, you simply can't pick it up again.

Sometimes I have a notion that what might improve the situation is to have women take over the occupations of government and trade and to give men their freedom.

Working lives are for the state to influence. Unemployment makes people unhappy. So does instability.

To be matter-of-fact about the world is to blunder into fantasy - and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful.

The greatest gift is not being afraid to question.