Woody Guthrie was what folks who don't believe in anything would call an anomaly.

Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.

America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.

I don't believe that songwriting has to be profound, but I truly believe that it's a crime for you to go outta your way for it not to be.

I have a low tolerance for mediocrity in music and life. I'm into pain and joy and the in-between doesn't interest me.

Actually, in its purest form, Islam is incredibly tolerant. That makes what's going on in the world really bizarre.

All we do as songwriters is rewrite the songs that have impressed us till we find our own voice. It's part of learning the craft.

You see things differently at 40 than you do at 31. Especially if you got to 40 the way I did.

Every day on Earth is another chance to get it right.

I don't really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself.

To me, religion is an agreement between a group of people about what God is. Spirituality is a one-on-one relationship.

...and tell you the worst of me and try to give you the best of me...

Intuition matters but, pay more attention to the unconscious bias.

You can try and read my lyrics off of this paper before I lay 'em But you won't take the sting out these words before I say 'em

Using a dog as a narrator has limitations and it has advantages. The limitations are that a dog cannot speak. A dog has no thumbs. A dog can't communicate his thoughts except with gestures.

There is nothing harder to come by than detachment and solitude; and nothing more important.

It's so interesting to watch Ben Stiller work because he just knows what's funny.

The forest waves, the morning breaks, The pastures sleep, ripple the lakes, Leaves twinkle, flowers like persons be And life pulsates in rock or tree.

There is no likelihood that man can ever tap the power of the atom

I still think I'm going to do something else when I grow up

For me the meaning of my work is much more fluid.