I try to not be self-conscious in my writing process.

The hands find a way to do what the heart wants to say

If you lack technique you lose the freedom to create.

I didn't study music. I literally lived it.

With the guitar I've suffered a great deal, but when I've had a good time, the suffering seemed worthwhile.

I believe that people have to be sensitized more about the many jobs an individual can branch out to after studying an art form.

You may be surprised to know that growing up, I wanted to be a writer of children's books.

What I love about African-African music is how unselfconscious it is in so many ways.

In general, even if I'm dealing with a historical subject, I begin with invention rather than investigation, because I need to understand what is going to be the voice or the tone of the story.

I have noticed that these days, people don't want to take their time to succeed.

As a visual arts teacher, I have to keep my mind open. I have explores styles from pointillism to cubism.

There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.

The level of sacrifice that a vision requires will determine the size of people who follow such leader.

The way to get over creative block is to simply place some constraints on yourself. It seems contradictory, but when it comes to creative work, limitations mean freedom.

It was easier to be brave when you were someone else.

Apocalypses don't happen very often. They tend to be separated by tens or even hundreds of millions of years.

If you lay duties upon people and give them no rights, you must pay them well.

Always have an answer - even if you change your mind five minutes later.

Lucky is where skill meets persistence.

Congress has not raised the minimum wage since 1997. The minimum wage is now at its lowest level in 50 years adjusted for inflation.

And always remember the ultimate truth: life is not about money, it's about emotion.