A man should be just cultured enough to be able to look with suspicion upon culture at first, not second hand.

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

Human life is as evanescent as the morning dew or a flash of lightning.

If I die prematurely at any rate I shall be saved from being bored to death by my own success.

Life is like music; it must be composed by ear, feeling, and instinct, not by rule.

Creativity is so delicate a flower that praise tends to make it bloom, while discouragement often nips it in the bud.

Don't learn to do, but learn in doing.

Fear is static that prevents me from hearing myself.

The great pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself too.

People care more about being thought to have taste than about being thought either good, clever or amiable.

Let us be grateful to the mirror for revealing to us our appearance only.

Perhaps one did not want to be loved so much as to be understood.

We're born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we're not alone.

I think Lincoln had a unique parenting style. He let his kids run free and wild.

Violence against women is still treated as a lesser crime. Armed groups turn it into a weapon of choice because of near total impunity.

Playing the Opry, when I get the opportunity - it's one of the coolest honors for any musician in any genre, but especially for a country musician.

I think when you fall in love, like true love, it’s love for life. All the rest is just experiences and delusions.

We know God easily, if we do not constrain ourselves to define him.

I think everyone is given drama, by virtue of the fact that we all have drama in our lives, but not everyone can make people laugh.

I have come to realize that destiny can hurt a person as much as it can bless him.

The good thing about my fans is that they like when I'm awkward and real, so I'm able to just go on stage and be my dorky self.