The blues - the sound of a sinner on revival day.

With a guitar I would be able to express the things I felt in sounds.

Setting my mind on a musical instrument was like falling in love. All the world seemed bright and changed.

Life is like a trumpet - if you don't put anything into it, you don't get anything out of it.

Whenever I heard the song of a bird and the answering call of its mate, I could visualize the notes in scale, all built up within my consciousness as a natural symphony.

My big ears indicated a talent for music. This thrilled me.

If my serenade of song and story should serve as a pillow for some composer's head, as yet perhaps unborn, to dream and build on our fond melodies in his tomorrow, I have not labored in vain.

I knew the whistle of each of the river boats on the Tennessee.

You can never tell what's in a woman's mind, And if she's from Harlem, there's no use o' tryin

Saving was slow and painful.

Nature was my kindergarten.

The degree of your desire determines your dedication.

Writing is the dancing of words, sometimes it is beautiful and meaningful, sometimes it is not.

I will say only this - when le prête is in the right mood, he can make even the devil afraid to turn his back

Welcome to my garage. This is where I go to get away from the Honey-Do list.

I think all of us who have been in Afghanistan on the ground multiple times know that what we're doing there on the ground is just not sustainable.

Remember, it's not what you do but that you do something that matters.

There is an alternative. It's an old alternative. It's not for everybody. It's only for people who are smart, limited market. It's enlightenment.

I learned not to depend on other people. I needed support, but it's you who has to go out and deliver.

It Is possible to live in peace.

I was a political journalist; I came to writing novels through an interest in politics and power.