Henry Rollins Quotes

For many years, I tried to make New Year's resolutions. I made lists and shot for great heights: I would show altruism and exert moral strength, patience and all those other great attributes.

I find it takes a lot of strength to endure myself.

We're at peak oil, peak water, peak resources, and so either we figure it out and let science lead or we head down a very bad, dark trail to where a lot of people aren't going to make it.

I tend to gravitate to the darkest or most obscure part of any venue in an effort to have my own space to experience the music on my own, free from unwanted conversations and other distractions.

Musicians should not play music. Music should play musicians.

It is amazing to hear grown-up people rationalize homophobia and discrimination. The lengths they go to trying to prove their points take reason to its breaking point.

Those who seek to profit by division don't stand a chance.

I think more tolerance, more people having more access to a chance to be literate, and a chance to stay healthy makes for a more peaceful planet.

Now and then, someone is able to look at an empty space, conclude it would be a great place to start a revolution, and bravely go forward.

I just travel the world with my backpack and my cameras and a bunch of Clif bars.

A lot of Americans don't have a passport, never will have a passport. Not only will they not travel, they don't want to travel.

The Bad Seeds are a band I will travel a great distance to see whenever possible.

I get along with Australians really well. Everyone's usually really cool, and it's always a drag to leave.

So, one way or another, I found myself in a few movies. I take it seriously when I'm on the set, but I don't take myself seriously as an actor.

Most Americans are very cool people.

War is very sad and small life is pathetically fragile at times.

The history of apartheid-era South Africa is incredibly sad and at times infuriatingly incomprehensible.

With any advent in technology, any technological innovation, there is the good and the bad.

Enough Americans saw fit to give president Obama a second term. I don't think there will be many people keeping their Romney/Ryan bumper stickers on their cars.

When people hold you in high esteem, it's very delicate relationship. When they meet you they're putting all their chips up. It's make or break.

'The Great Gatsby' is a book I have read a few times, and it seems to get heavier every time I come to visit.

Dinosaur Jr. in their live capacity are a band that put me in a state of such overwhelming rock that it often takes quite a while to come down.

For me, returning to Los Angeles annihilates the memories of where I have just been with an astonishing speed.

I mean Black Flag happened. I was lucky. I don't think I could have put together something with one percent of that oomph on my own.

Sometimes when you meet a musician you are a fan of, and he or she isn't the friendliest person, you walk away from the experience wondering if you will ever be able to listen to their music again.

The scars will take me far, they always do.

The arts in America exist in spite of America, not because of America.

Maybe I'm ego-tripping, but I don't find myself a particularly horrible person, so I don't think I need to hold back anything I think or feel.

Some music really does suck!

Black Sabbath - one of the world's universal language of music. I felt proud, for three or four minutes of my life combining my voice with Tony Iommi's guitar sound.

That Newt Gingrich or any mainstream Republican has the nerve to look down from what they perceive as their moral mountaintop at anyone is laughable.

Motivation has always been a fascinating factor when considering a touring artist, especially when the years stack up. What keeps one out there year after year?

There's always going to be a need for activism; there's always going to be a need for you and me doing the right thing, being very Lincoln-sonian in looking out for each other.

To me, the real 'state of the union' is found in how Americans react to current events.

Texas is a hotbed of insanely good bands and musicians.

I'm not artistic nor am I all that creative.

I want to change things for the better, just like everybody else.

All my big heroes are literary, writers.

Giving a good performance, giving it all is what it's all about. I love to perform.

I am afforded a bit of easy wonderment in relative comfort as to how humans have lasted so long. Climate- and geography-wise, the planet seems to have little use for us.

Michele Bachmann is always a great person to go to for an opinion about anything. She has a very active and interesting mind.

When someone asks you, 'What's punk?' my reply is, 'If you have to ask, you're never going to know.'

No matter how rough things can be at times, many Americans are optimistic and on the move.

I always found the Chicago audience to be a smart, fast-moving, violent and cheerful lot, and it's always good to be back.

Music keeps you young. Having music in your life keeps you open to things.

South Sudan is one of the most hard-put places in the world.

Songs sung under duress are often very powerful.

Where there is young people and vitality, you're going to find punk rock.

I'm disappointed by bands left and right, every day.

I wonder how Colin Powell sleeps at night. I would like to have a word with him because he lied. He lied. He lied to me. He lied to my face through the camera at the U.N.