I can never say ‚why‘ about anything I do. I suppose I can say ‚how‘ and ‚when‘ and ‚what.‘ But ‚why‘ is impenetrable to me.

If you begin to understand what you are without trying to change it, then what you are undergoes a transformation.

One thing about me is I try to be honest.

A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment.

If you desire to be good, begin by believing that you are wicked.

What do I care about the purring of one who cannot love, like the cat?

It’s certainly not wrong to want to be a better person. God gave us that desire.

My life is mine to remember.

Back in the day, what motivated me was overcoming myself. Now I believe in being a leader. I’ve done it all – I’m good. Now, it’s about setting an example for others to follow. I can’t just talk it – I have to live it.

Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.

I think, because I started Virgin when I was a teenager, it has become a part of me, like my family, and I am motivated by ambition for it, almost as if it were a child.

The man of genius inspires us with a boundless confidence in our own powers.

All that spirits desire, spirits attain.

If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased.

You must be the change you wish to see in the world.

A man may be a fool and not know it, but not if he is married.

To be great is to be misunderstood.

There are hunters, and there are victims. By your discipline, cunning, obedience, and alertness, you will decide if you are a hunter or a victim.

If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.

We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret or disappointment.

What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not a goal.

I’m quite a chauvinistic person.

It’s not necessary to fear the prospect of failure but to be determined not to fail.

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

It’s like, remember who you always were, where you came from, who your parents were, how they raised you. Because that authentic self is going to follow you all through life, so make sure that it’s solid so it’s something that you can hold on and be proud of for the rest of your life.

In Hollywood the woods are full of people that learned to write but evidently can’t read. If they could read their stuff, they’d stop writing.

In action a great heart is the chief qualification. In work, a great head.

I’d be so bored if I wasn’t going out there, knowing that I could still do it. So, I’m going to work hard to be ready to go, and I still plan on playing for a long time.

People can try to reinvent themselves. I don’t think you can really change who you are, though, because who you are is pretty much where you came from and what you’ve done up to now.

One today is worth two tomorrows.

You have to stay faithful to what you’re working on.

I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. I’m really confused now.

Hiding places there are innumerable, escape is only one, but possibilities of escape, again, are as many as hiding places.

Have the humility to learn from those around you.

Everything you need you already have. You are complete right now, you are a whole, total person, not an apprentice person on the way to someplace else. Your completeness must be understood by you and experienced in your thoughts as your own personal reality.

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.

Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.

Before finding music, I didn’t have too many aspirations. I wanted to hang out, make a little money from whatever I had to do.

The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.

And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high.

You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.

How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!

We were poor. But my mom never accepted that. She worked hard to become a residential contractor – got her master’s with honors at the University of New Orleans. I used to go to every class with her. Her father was my paternal figure.

We’re all insecure, aren’t we? I’m not walking around like I’m macho man or anything.

Once I’ve decided to do something, I do usually try to carry it through to fruition.

If you want to be enthusiastic, act enthusiastic.

When thou art above measure angry, bethink thee how momentary is man’s life.

I put my flaws on front street. So the world accepted my flaws, so I don’t have any flaws.

Once you start a working on something, don’t be afraid of failure and don’t abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest.

I always tell people that if I move anywhere it would be Toronto.

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.

I put a lot of pressure on myself. I think something’s not good enough, and I won’t stop until I feel like I’ve made it. I’m never satisfied.

A part of me has become immortal, out of my control.

If a woman possesses manly virtues one should run away from her; and if she does not possess them she runs away from herself.

The light which puts out our eyes is darkness to us. Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star.

Unless I am both capable of and willing to reopen the wound every time I write a song, if I choose to not look inside myself to write music, I’m really not worth being called an artist at all.

To be conscious means not simply to be, but to be reported, known, to have awareness of one’s being added to that being.

Never lose a holy curiosity.

I never worry about action, but only inaction.

There wasn’t much as a kid that inspired me in what I did as an adult, but I was always very interested in what motivates people, and in telling stories and building things.

I’m almost like three people. There’s me the, Dolly, the person. There’s me, the star. And then there’s me, the manager.