I never believed in a set routine. It should depend on how you feel, because you play what you feel.

You only get better by playing.

And, you know, I think the original recording of Ravel's Bolero, probably whoever played percussion on that, will never have It played better than that.

But, when you have to resort to turntables, trick lights, flashing lights, fire and all that, you're actually saying, I need this because what I do is not all that together.

Average band with a great drummer sounds great, great band with an average drummer sounds average.

A great musician is just a thief who doesn't get caught

Every drummer that had a name, had a name because of his individual playing. He didn't sound like anybody else, So everybody that I ever listened to, in some form, influenced my taste.

But I think that any young drummer starting out today should get himself a great teacher and learn all there is to know about the instrument that he wants to play.

I consider every drummer that ever played before me an influence, in every way.

I think it's a fallacy that the harder you practice the better you get.

If he's a true symphony artist, he knows better than that because he knows that the only truly creative musician is the jazz musician.

Be kind. Be happy. Be free.

A writer is the one who loves to write . . . on and about anything . . . And this clears that I am a writer!!

Nothing is as nice as plugging in your guitar and turning up the volume really loud, just seeing what kind of beautiful noise you can make with it.

The deeper side of the study occurs on levels of attention your mind is not aware of, but that your superconscious mind is - what don Juan calls the nagual.

Always be kinder than necessary.

I'm gonna live forever, or die trying.

I just want to do everything. I don't want to sound soppy or too cliched, but that's the way it is.

As soon as I walk out that door, you're gonna decide you want me back. You might even tell yourself that you're in love with me. But you're not. You never will be.

Man must make his choice between ease and wealth; either may be his, but not both.

The American's conviction that he must be able to look any man in the eye and tell him to go to hell is the very essence of the free man's way of life.