Guitar comes more out of its limitations for me, like putting it in a weird tuning and then just go places.

I like to carry around extremely pretentious books, and I don't know if I can read them, but if I hold them near me, it imbues me with a sense of powerful intelligence.

I was listening to this record by Paul Desmond called First Place Again. It's incredibly gorgeous. There is nothing better that you would want to get from music than you get from that record.

I am a complete jazz nerd.

When I do older folk songs, I'm not doing them because they're old. I have no interest in reviving or continuing a tradition. I'm just doing them because they're great songs.

If I pick up a fiddle, I don't compose on it, so much as I just play whatever.

I'm not really a folk singer, but I love the music and there's certain lines that will get just stuck in my head, and they seem to be stuck there for a reason, and I start singing them.

Reading books is fantastic. I didn't do it until ten years ago. It's great.

Success becomes worthwhile if it fills your heart with happiness and not with stress.

Perfection is the enemy of authenticity.

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

I'm not an athiest. How can you not believe in something that doesn't exist? That's way too convoluted for me.

I was just an okay person.

One time I was really close to Steve Martin. I was too afraid to actually go talk to him, but I'll count that as meeting.

Angels are just pretty insects.

There are as many ways to pray as there are moments in life.

I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill.

You have made a very good point: both the Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] and I enjoy a fairly high level of trust among the citizens of our countries.