The thing that's tricky is sometimes the best voices - just because someone hits the big notes and sounds amazing - it doesn't necessarily mean they make the greatest artists.

Listen to the Bee Gees and you can learn to be a great writer.

I was a pop-music junkie. My parents were into Frank Sinatra and Doris Day. They weren't too excited when I had Aretha or the Stones pumping.

When I look at myself, I'd like not to have hair on the top of the ceiling.

I looked a little pasty. But hey, at least I didn't wet myself!

I have breakups that I can credit to every song. In my twenties, I picked people who would create that dysfunction and drama, so I could draw upon it.

Songwriters tell the truth.

Some of the best songs that artists perform year after year are ones they hated.

I felt like I got more comfortable on "Idol" when I just started being myself and not trying to be what I thought I had to be.

I don't go to record stores to look at my albums, but it's always a thrill to see them.

Look at someone like Ke$ha. I wouldn't say she's got the most rangy, incredible voice, but she's got a thing. She stands for something, and people are buying into that.

Plimpton was a presence. He looked for ways in which he could make himself ridiculous. That made him a great storyteller.

Your attitude is the outward expression of your internal perceptions, self-esteem, and current thoughts.

It is not everyday that one learns an entire militia has sworn unbeknownest to obey you

Carlton Mellick III has the craziest book titles and the kinkiest fans!

Life hits you hard. But it takes you three seconds to decide if you are a superhero or not. I am.

Massage is the study of anatomy in braille.

The supreme rulers are hardly known by their subjects. The lesser are loved and praised. The even lesser are feared. The least are despised.

Believe me, no civilized man ever regrets a pleasure, and no uncivilized man ever knows what a pleasure is.

Every Christian who does not study, really study, the Bible every day is a fool.

The commonest weakness of our race is our ability to rationalize our most selfish purposes.