I like the songwriting. I don't ever listen and then go back and change stuff. For me when I wrote the song, it's always really fun and exciting.

This is what I wanted to do from the very beginning: write songs and make records and tour them with a good live band.

I read books all the time, I'm always reading. I'm not like somebody that reads really fast or a lot or anything, but I always have a book that I'm reading.

The fact that I have a lot of songs written doesn't keep me from wanting to write new ones, or new ones from coming.

I don't feel like I'm half as important as Elliott Smith or Kurt Cobain. And I'm not going to be somebody that became so unhappy that he succumbed.

There's enough adverbs in the world for you to start creating new ones.

I can watch a movie about a person that can make me feel depressed or remind me of something else, and then later on I'll get an idea for a song.

I tend to like to write a song and then think about it for a while. I record a demo of it and then put it away and wait until I've gotten more thoughts on it or get sure exactly how to approach it.

I think music is a spiritual way to communicate transcendental things.

A lot of times, magazines end up presenting me as some type of weirdo, but I make my music for everyday people.

I'm not making any money, but I view it as some sort of investment, or like buying myself a great present.

Fertility of the soil is the future of civilization.

I pray you indulge me for a space, for I am going to set out on a speech which may have some duration, but whose theme may be gleaned from its opening phrase: how dare you.

You told me once that we shall be judged by our intentions, not by our accomplishments. I thought it a grand remark. But we must intend to accomplish - not sit intending on a chair.

I am not yet worthy; and I will live to deserve to be called a Trained Nurse.

The propaganda machine keeps on churning out lies and deceit. And the obedient, unthinking, apathetic people in our society keep accepting it.

But then it hasn't really been a focus of our government to make us an educated people.

Experience is a funny thing. You dont always have it when you need it.

At present I answer about 100 letters a month, and read 300 emails.

President George W. Bush won reelection in 2004 largely because he was seen as comfortable in his own skin, while rival John Kerry was viewed as a flip-flopping opportunist.

At home the very walls lend you strength.