A civilization is not destroyed by wicked people; it is not necessary that people be wicked but only that they be spineless.

Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.

I can't believe what you say, because I see what you do.

Fires can't be made with dead embers, nor can enthusiasm be stirred by spiritless men. Enthusiasm in our daily work lightens effort and turns even labor into pleasant tasks.

Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.

The place in which I'll fit will not exist until I make it.

Trust life, and it will teach you, in joy and sorrow, all you need to know.

If the relationship of father to son could really be reduced to biology, the whole earth would blaze with the glory of fathers and sons.

You have to decide who you are and force the world to deal with you, not with its idea of you.

Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.

The American idea of racial progress is measured by how fast I become white.

People keep asking me ...How to instantly become a better writer? It’s simple: Use "power words" and see for yourself.

Record the album after the tour.

Don't talk about things you don't like. Talk about music that you love, books that you've read. I put a lot of recipes online.

Haven't you picked up on the irony of life by now? Things only just happen when you're not ready. When you're ready, you start trying, and gadamn I feel like trying right now.

My mother always said to me, 'You're going to have to work harder and have to be better, and you can't take no for an answer'.

- 'Music opens your soul, makes you ready.' - 'Ready for what?' - He smiles big. 'Exactly.

Can I ask you a question?" "You already have." He paused, considering. "Can I ask you two questions, then?" "You already have.

Whenever I arrive on a real location, I have to move around and work out what the best angles are going to be.

I like all kinds of music. I listen to Abigail Washburn, the Punch Brothers, and Marc Johnson, the great clawhammer player. I also listen a lot to Sirius Radio, there's a lot of bluegrass there.

God gets you to the plate, but once you're there you're on your own.