I have to write because if I don’t get something down then after a while I feel it’s going to bang the side of my head off.

It generally happens that assurance keeps an even pace with ability.

It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.

O, you men who think or say that I am malevolent, stubborn or misanthropic, how greatly do you wrong me. You do not know the secret cause which makes me seem that way to you, and I would have ended my life – it was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me.

One can be instructed in society, one is inspired only in solitude.

I’ve been lucky – all the ads I’ve got, I’ve got to be myself. I haven’t had to act too much or tried too hard to be someone I’m not. I think that’s why people sort of like them. Even the Fastrack ads I did with Genelia.

I believe it is universally understood and acknowledged that all men will ever act correctly, unless they have a motive to do otherwise.

By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it. The nonexistent is whatever we have not sufficiently desired.

Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. It’s tough to do that when we’re terrified about what people might see or think.

People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing – continue to rock it – because obviously, God wants you here.

Talent without working hard is nothing.

The man who has done his level best… is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.

We forfeit three-quarters of ourselves in order to be like other people.

Let us have no machine-made ornament at all; it is all bad and worthless and ugly.

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

Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.

There is no subject so old that something new cannot be said about it.

To what greater inspiration and counsel can we turn than to the imperishable truth to be found in this treasure house, the Bible?

Art is not a thing; it is a way.

The assumption is that your personal life has to be a mess to create, but how much chaos can you allow in before it takes over?

I can’t keep somebody from being a star, and I can’t make somebody a star, and nobody can.

I booked my first studio at like 12 or 13. Somewhere in that season of my life, singing along with the radio became me wanting to be on radio, you know. And writing Langston Hughes replica poems became me wanting to write like Stevie Wonder.

The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes, but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.

When nature has work to be done, she creates a genius to do it.

There are two kinds of teachers: the kind that fill you with so much quail shot that you can’t move, and the kind that just gives you a little prod behind and you jump to the skies.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

I wake up every day inspiring myself, because God gave me life.

Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic.

I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.

If you can do a half-assed job of anything, you’re a one-eyed man in a kingdom of the blind.

You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile.

Whether you come from a council estate or a country estate, your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.

I never played with anything like toys.

Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall.

We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.

But I think talent as a writer is hard-wired in, it’s all there, at least the basic elements of it. You can’t change it any more than you can choose whether to be right handed or left handed.

Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter’s soul.

One great use of words is to hide our thoughts.

Everyone I look up to is bringing me into the tech world. You’d be surprised by all the music people in it, invested in it.

I always like to create things that get attention. It used to be a problem when I wasn’t famous. Now, I can do whatever I want and people have to accept it.

He who seeks rest finds boredom. He who seeks work finds rest.

One of the huge imbalances in life is the disparity between your daily existence, with its routines and habits, and the dream you have within yourself of some extraordinarily satisfying way of living.

My success isn’t a result of arrogance – it’s a result of belief.

Art! Who comprehends her? With whom can one consult concerning this great goddess?

You can write a song about being in love with someone, but you don’t have to be in love with anyone.

He that struggles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill. Our antagonist is our helper.

Find enough clever things to say, and you’re a Prime Minister; write them down and you’re a Shakespeare.

Action expresses priorities.

I have owed you this letter for a very long time-but my fingers have avoided the pencil as though it were an old and poisoned tool.

Providence has its appointed hour for everything. We cannot command results, we can only strive.

I know Elon, we’re very like minded in many ways. We’re not conceptual twins. One thing I want us to do is go to Mars, but for me it’s one thing. He’s singularly focused on that. I think motivation wise, for me I don’t find that Plan B idea motivating. I don’t want a plan B for Earth, I want Plan B to make sure Plan A works.

I have dreams, and I want to see them come to fruition.

Do your job. Do it the best you can. Do it right, because somebody, sometimes your best friend, is waiting for you to screw up so she can take your place.

I don’t know, I feel desperate when I sing. And I look desperate – it feels like I’m singing for my life, which makes me twitch, if that makes sense.

I often get ideas for songs on the tour bus at odd times. Like at 6am when no one is around, I’d just write.

Losers are people who are afraid of losing.

If I didn’t have my films as an outlet for all the different sides of me, I would probably be locked up.

You see things; and you say ‚Why?‘ But I dream things that never were; and I say ‚Why not?‘

What keeps me motivated is love and passion.

I don’t think there’s such a thing as autobiographical fiction. If I say it happened, it happened, even if only in my mind.