It is written on the arched sky; it looks out from every star. It is the poetry of Nature; it is that which uplifts the spirit within us.

I believe in sketching because there is something very sensitive in sketching, you know, in sketches that you don’t have out of a computer that looks the same like everybody even if, later on, the dresses are OK, but I like to sketch, and I like to see trails made after my sketches that look the same. It is you know, what I like.

One of the best ways to see tree flowers is to climb one of the tallest trees and to get into close, tingling touch with them, and then look broad.

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.

I’m telling you there is hope. I have seen it, but it does not come from the governments or corporations. It comes from the people.

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

I think a number of the leaders are, whether you like it or not, in the hip-hop generation. And when they understand enough, they’ll do wonders. I count on them.

I liked to write from the time I was about 12 or 13. I loved to read. And since I only spoke to my brother, I would write down my thoughts. And I think I wrote some of the worst poetry west of the Rockies. But by the time I was in my 20s, I found myself writing little essays and more poetry – writing at writing.

Sports are basically our way of feeling sorry for ourselves. Most men can’t become athletes. We’re watching guys who actually made it. We see them dunking and making touchdowns. Then we think about ourselves when we were younger.

Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius.

Life is a song to me.

Ambition can creep as well as soar.

Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curse on all inaction.

God’s Spirit moves through us and the world at a pace that can never be constricted by any one religious paradigm. I love that.

Man takes his law from the Earth; the Earth takes its law from Heaven; Heaven takes its law from the Tao. The law of the Tao is its being what it is.

‚Two Voices,‘ from my album with Peter Schwalm, is an intact dream-poem. I awoke one night with an image of a piece of paper and all the words of the poem written on it, so I just blundered down to the kitchen table and ‚copied it out.‘

I believe that each of us comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory.

No sanction can stand against ignited minds.

There are things around, and I know where they can be got quite easily, but I quite like waking up to the sunshine.

Walking is man’s best medicine.

The noblest spirit is most strongly attracted by the love of glory.

My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip hop.

Whenever death may surprise us, let it be welcome if our battle cry has reached even one receptive ear and another hand reaches out to take up our arms.

I get up every morning and say, ‚Father, give me strength today, not strength so I can lift 500 pounds, but give me strength, Lord, so when I speak, my words might motivate, might inspire somebody, Lord, when they see me, let them see you. When they hear me, Lord, let them hear you. In your holy name I pray.‘

The sun is gone, but I have a light.

In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.

Nature puts no question and answers none which we mortals ask. She has long ago taken her resolution.

Nature is wont to hide herself.

Never lose a holy curiosity.

The poetry you read has been written for you, each of you – black, white, Hispanic, man, woman, gay, straight.

Let me recommend the best medicine in the world: a long journey, at a mild season, through a pleasant country, in easy stages.

I find a lot of inspiration through visuals. When I was 12, I saw Aurora’s ‚Runaway‘ music video. Something inside me clicked, like, ‚That is what I want to do, no matter whether it goes anywhere or not.‘

I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.

I want to thank The Beatles for almost single-handedly getting me out of writer’s block.

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

When I was two, a dragonfly flew near me. A man knocked it to the ground and trod on it. I remember crying because I’d caused the dragonfly to be killed.

I usually don’t like to ‚spoon feed‘ my audience, because I grew up idolizing story tellers who tell stories using symbolism, so it was in my nature to do the same.

If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.

Love is the answer, and you know that for sure; Love is a flower, you’ve got to let it grow.

If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry.

Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes.

You know, as a writer, I’m more of a listener than a writer, cuz if I hear something I will write it down.

Man and animals are in reality vehicles and conduits of food, tombs of animals, hostels of Death, coverings that consume, deriving life by the death of others.

If you look deep enough you will see music; the heart of nature being everywhere music.

I think it is perfectly natural for any artist to admire intensely and love a young man. It is an incident in the life of almost every artist.

You might win some, you might lose some. But you go in, you challenge yourself, you become a better man, a better individual, a better fighter.

A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere.

You ask me if I keep a notebook to record my great ideas. I’ve only ever had one.

I think a poet is anybody who wouldn’t call himself a poet.

Death, like birth, is a secret of Nature.

Everything is political. I will never be a politician or even think political. Me just deal with life and nature. That is the greatest thing to me.

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.

It is easier to feel than to realize, or in any way explain, Yosemite grandeur. The magnitudes of the rocks and trees and streams are so delicately harmonized, they are mostly hidden.

We must rekindle the fire of idealism in our society.

The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others.

I became interested in folk music because I had to make it somehow.

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

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.

Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.

Nature is the incarnation of thought. The world is the mind precipitated.

I have certain guys who I looked up to. Jordan, Kobe, those guys. Passing that on to doing my part to kind of keep that influence of basketball where it should be is kind of why I play the game.