I love touring - I don't do it as often as I should.

On my own I generally have very messy hair, wear jeans and sneakers.

Being part of the natural world reminds me that innocence isn't ever lost completely; we just need to maintain our goodness to regain it.

I love playing big rooms. There's nothing like it. It's a power trip.

In the end only kindness matters.

I may not be able to pull on the smallest of holds, but those I can pull on I can pull on all day long.

Live your life with love and bravery and you shall lead a life uncommon.

I consider myself a product of Alaska. The love and the debt that I feel to my home state, you always want your hometown to be the proudest of you.

I'm becoming more and more myself with time. I guess that's what grace is. The refinement of your soul through time.

Reality is what you believe it to be. It's what you put your thought and energy into, because your hands physically manifest thought. So your world becomes what you feel and what you think.

I don't see the world unless I see it in ink.

Anybody can look at you. It's quite rare to find someone who sees the same world you see.

One of the greatest challenges is not going to the mattresses with someone who criticizes your novel.

Seclusion wasn't good for anyone

If, therefore, there is any one superior in virtue and in the power of performing the best actions, him we ought to follow and obey, but he must have the capacity for action as well as virtue.

I used to be very revolutionary, but now I think that nothing can be gained by brute force. People must be drawn to good by goodness.

The Spirit never makes men the instruments of converting others until they feel that they cannot do it themselves; that their skill in argument, in persuasion, in management, avails nothing.

The value of tolerance is central to living in today's world - especially in diverse places like the Bronx.

If you're a Black artist, you could paint a wall of smiley faces, and someone will still ask you, 'Why are you so angry?'

We like to believe that, in our lifetime, the human condition is improving.

Be very, very careful what you put into that head of yours, because you will never, ever get it out.