I draw from the crowd a lot.

I think most of the people involved in any art always secretly wonder whether they are really there because they’re good or there because they’re lucky.

In all my work, in the movies I write, the lyrics, the poetry, the prose, the essays, I am saying that we may encounter many defeats – maybe it’s imperative that we encounter the defeats – but we are much stronger than we appear to be and maybe much better than we allow ourselves to be. Human beings are more alike than unalike.

I’m never gonna step away from stand-up. I can’t. That’s what got me where I am, and that’s also my muse. That’s how I stay level-headed. That’s what keeps me going.

I feel that when you care about your music, taking risks is something you should do to keep things exciting.

Philosophically considered, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul. Strictly speaking, therefore, all that is separate from us, all which Philosophy distinguishes as the ‚Not Me,‘ that is, both nature and art, all other men and my own body, must be ranked under this name, ‚Nature.‘

I’ve always been amazed by Da Vinci, because he worked out science on his own. He would work by drawing things and writing down his ideas. Of course, he designed all sorts of flying machines way before you could actually build something like that.

All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril. It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex and vital.

I believe that economics is based on scarcity of markets. And it’s possible to monetize your art without compromising the integrity of it for commerce.

You can’t always write a chord ugly enough to say what you want to say, so sometimes you have to rely on a giraffe filled with whipped cream.

Man’s only true happiness is to live in hope of something to be won by him. Reverence something to be worshipped by him, and love something to be cherished by him, forever.

I try to use my experience and the fact that I grew up in the ghetto – I tell people you don’t have to rob or steal to get out of the ghetto.

Instead of worrying about what people say of you, why not spend time trying to accomplish something they will admire.

I kind of make a film for myself to sort of express myself.

Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words.

You have to dream before your dreams can come true.

I don’t live for the accolades. I’m more so about the music. Making it, and putting it out. Those are the two best feelings.

Sometimes I write about my own life. And sometimes I write about situations I see my friends going through. Sometimes I write about a scene I saw in a movie. I take inspiration from all different places.

Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.

Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.

The best author will be the one who is ashamed to become a writer.

Begin noticing and being careful about keeping your imagination free of thoughts that you do not wish to materialize. Instead, initiate a practice of filling your creative thoughts to overflow with ideas and wishes that you fully intend to manifest. Honor your imaginings regardless of others seeing them as crazy or impossible.

No art can be noble which is incapable of expressing thought, and no art is capable of expressing thought which does not change.

The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.

The idea that you encourage companies to take their innovative thinkers and think about the most needy – even beyond the market opportunities – that’s something that appropriately ought to be done.

God has equipped you to handle difficult things. In fact, He has already planted the seeds of discipline and self-control inside you. You just have to water those seeds with His Word to make them grow!

I always knew that St. Jude was an amazing organization but meeting the kids and seeing how the hospital works first hand was truly beautiful. It doesn’t feel like a regular hospital all dreary and sad. It’s a colorful, beautiful, comfortable, fun place to live and the energy is wonderful.

I don’t care if people think I am an overactor, as long as they enjoy what I do. People who think that would call Van Gogh an overpainter.

People always say that you can’t please everybody. I think that’s a cop-out. Why not attempt it? ‚Cause think of all the people you will please if you try.

It is a fact often observed, that men have written good verses under the inspiration of passion, who cannot write well under other circumstances.

My style influences my music and everything around me.

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.

Innovation has nothing to do with how many R & D dollars you have. When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R & D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it.

You can write any time people will leave you alone and not interrupt you. Or, rather, you can if you will be ruthless enough about it. But the best writing is certainly when you are in love.

For a long time now I have tried simply to write the best I can. Sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can.

The only frustrating thing about jail is that I can’t make music.

I’m always interested in what you can do with technology that people haven’t thought of doing yet.

I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan.

I used to draw a lot. If my mother would ask me to do something else, I’d have a hairy conniption. I’d just go crazy.

I subscribe to the myth that an artist’s creativity comes from torment. Once that’s fixed, what do you draw on?

The greatest story of all is Colonel Sanders. He didn’t start until he was sixty-six on a freeway bypass for his chicken shop. Anything is possible!

In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine.

When you revolutionize education, you’re taking the very mechanism of how people be smarter and do new things, and you’re priming the pump for so many incredible things.

There are 309 million people out there that are trying to improve their lot in life. And we’ve got a system that allows them to do it.

One element of Madonna’s career that really takes center stage is how many times she’s reinvented herself. It’s easier to stay in one look, one comfort zone, one musical style. It’s inspiring to see someone whose only predictable quality is being unpredictable.

All my big mistakes are when I try to second-guess or please an audience. My work is always stronger when I get very selfish about it.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world – not even our troubles.

I’m not a prophet or a stone aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on.

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.

I always use Michael as, first and foremost, a vocal inspiration, and ‚Off the Wall‘ was definitely the one that made me feel like I could sing.

The love of heaven makes one heavenly.

If I had a stock of fabulous sounds I would just always use them. I wouldn’t bother to find new ones.

When I heard ‚Jesus, Take the Wheel,‘ I was like, OK. Some people look at it as a song written for an American Idol, Carrie Underwood, who is wonderful. But when you’re a songwriter listening to a song, you hear something else. I heard that song, and wow.

The smart thing in the art world is to have one good idea and never have another.

All theory, dear friend, is gray, but the golden tree of life springs ever green.

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.

Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.

No one’s policing their own minds more than an author. You spend a lot of time in your own head analysing what you think about things, and a philosophy comes.

Every artist preserves deep within him a single source from which, throughout his lifetime, he draws what he is, and what he says. When the source dries up, the work withers and crumbles.