Some people are born with the necessary gift, and some work hard to build on the few gifts they have.

That was the crossover line for us, to be able to play that many shows, sell them out real quick and have that tribe queue up outside and still be a mystery to everybody else.

Climate change is such a huge issue that it requires strong, concerted, consistent and enduring action by governments.

What generally happens in this county is that our politicians don't serve us well because they don't tell the truth, and they don't keep their promises.

I have always had, as I know many people have, a singular passion for Australia. I do love the sunburnt country, its ancient landscapes, its exhilarating reaches of sand and sea.

You don't want to spend your life explaining yourself.

It is now well understood that humans ultimately depend on the health of the planet for their wellbeing.

At an everyday level I would reckon myself more than fortunate.

In particular, Australia, because of its ancient geography, soil profile and distinctive weather patterns, is more adversely affected by climate variability than some other continents.

Well I'm not convinced that expanding uranium mining is in the best interests of the country and the best interests of its environment.

I haven't chosen to make an issue of faith.

True masters deconstruct as well as reconstruct.

If all the year were playing holidays To sport would be as tedious as to work.

When you improvise, you work off the laughs from the audience, but when you step on stage to do standup, it's silent.

Hollywood didn't kill Marilyn Monroe, it's the Marilyn Monroes who are killing Hollywood.

I find faith in human perseverance, even as the universe throws challenge after challenge our way.

I went to University of Illinois. Big school. 35,000 students. 800 black... I was the only black in every class. Hard to be absent.

If they don't have the Grand Ole Opry, like they do in Tennessee, just send me to hell or New York City, it would be about the same to me.

Don’t get high off praises, and don’t get too low on critiques.

[What's my favourite book?] It changes all the time.

[History is] a tyranny over the souls of the dead - and so the imagination of the living.