Government cannot be your parent.

If you were to come to Minnesota, I could have you locked up like that. That's power.

I love my country, not my government.

When I ran for governor of Minnesota, I only raised $300,000.

Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people

Patriotism to your country is something that comes from your heart. It should be taught to you by your parents.

If you tell the truth, you don't need a long memory.

Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. It tells people to go out and stick their noses in other people's business.

A vote is "wasted" when someone fails to vote their conscience.

A hero must be honorable, must have honor. And you can't have honor if you're a liar. There is no honor in lying.

There is much more to being a patriot and a citizen than reciting the pledge or raising a flag.

Be a good listener. With rapt attention, let every communication or conversation you have with your mentor, friends or even strangers be well understood.

That everyone may receive at least a moderate education appears to be an objective of vital importance.

Teachers are directed to instruct their pupils... and to awaken in them a sense of their responsibility toward the community of the nation.

I was of the “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, then wonder why life didn’t give you freaking sugar so you could drink the stuff” school of thought.

I know that the twelve notes in each octave and the variety of rhythm offer me opportunities that all of human genius will never exhaust.

I'd rather play in front of a full house than an empty crowd

I'm not writing great literature. I'm writing commercial fiction for people to enjoy the stories and to like the characters.

When I record an album I'm trying to get as close as possible to that perfect moment.

When you're a young actor you ring your agent every evening. It's not like when you're in Hollywood where you do one picture a year. You just hope you get a day on television.

I think Americans should have a policy of love. That should be the foreign policy, love. Export Love.