Actually, in its purest form, Islam is incredibly tolerant. That makes what's going on in the world really bizarre.

Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.

America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.

I don't believe that songwriting has to be profound, but I truly believe that it's a crime for you to go outta your way for it not to be.

I have a low tolerance for mediocrity in music and life. I'm into pain and joy and the in-between doesn't interest me.

All we do as songwriters is rewrite the songs that have impressed us till we find our own voice. It's part of learning the craft.

You see things differently at 40 than you do at 31. Especially if you got to 40 the way I did.

Every day on Earth is another chance to get it right.

I don't really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself.

To me, religion is an agreement between a group of people about what God is. Spirituality is a one-on-one relationship.

What's important is you wake up in the morning and something doesn't exist, and when you finish you day's work something is in the world that wasn't there before.

And this our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. I would not change it.

Don't worry about what other people think. Do what makes you happy. Do whatever it takes to make the people in your life happy. Court joy as if it were the air that you needed to breath[e].

Elusive success is not the same as failure.

It gets harder every day to get out of bed. I don't feel like it loads of the time. It is only my exercise routine which wakes me up.

Poetry is the connecting link between body and mind.

You're never too old to take baby steps

Those who use tobacco, tea and coffee should lay these idols aside, and put their cost into the treasury of the Lord.

Good people aren't good because they never cause harm to others. They're good because they treat others the best way they know how, with the understanding that they have.