Lord, forgive me if my need Sometimes shapes a human creed.

The truth is... everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else.

There is no secret to success except hard work and getting something indefinable which we call 'the breaks.

I was reared in the conservative atmosphere of a Methodist parsonage.

If I am going to be a poet at all, I am going to be POET and not NEGRO POET.

What is Africa to me: Copper sun or scarlet sea, Jungle star or jungle track, Strong bronzed men, or regal black Women from whose loins I sprang When the birds of Eden sang?

We shall not always plant while others reap

The key to all strange things is in thy heart..../ My spirit has come home, that sailed the doubtful seas.

My poetry has become the way of my giving out what music is within me.

We were not made to eternally weep.

Dame Poverty gave me my name, And Pain godfathered me.

Hope springs forever.

The glory that was Greece.

Whiskey will always be a part of my life.

Make haste cautiously.

Why don't we just expand ourselves into our perfect form, our perfect being?

I assume I have the lowest blood pressure of any candidate.

The Telecaster has two sounds - a good one and a bad one.

When I write my music I see all the rivers flowing... sensual, spiritual, religious, animal, intellectual.

The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright-- And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night.

The first thing I do every morning is go online to check the surf. If the waves are good, I'll go surf. The beach is 10 minutes away.