Obituaries are like near-death experiences for cowards.

The only way to find your voice is to use it. It’s hardwired, built into you. Talk about the things you love. Your voice will follow.

It’s one of my theories that when people give you advice, they’re really just talking to themselves in the past.

Usually, when we talk about creativity, it's about self-expression, which is great, but for work to be art or design, there has to be someone on the other end. The audience makes the work come alive.

Don't wait until you know who you are to get started.

Be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anybody else--that's how you'll get ahead.

You can’t be content with mastery; you have to push yourself to become a student again.

You’re only going to be as good as the stuff you surround yourself with.

The thing is: It takes a lot of energy to be creative. You don't have that energy if you waste it on other stuff.

Don't worry about doing research. Just search.

You can't find your voice if you don't use it.

Morality doesn’t exist in space, only in the spaces between people.

My first instinct when I write songs is not a negative one. It's something positive... Everything I've ever done has some form of hope in it, I think.

If suffering brings wisdom, I would wish to be less wise.

I am a patriot, but I must say that English poetry is the richest in the world.

Everything is global now. It's not London, it's not Spain, it's not Italy - everything is everywhere. So you have to be everywhere, I guess.

Life + a cat ... adds up to an incalculable sum.

There is a deep desire to change the power structure.

I graduated a the top of my class in the '84 Olympic Games; I won a gold medal.

My master's degree was in English literature.

I've triumphed over addiction.