I've always been aggressive and an underdog, and my dad was worried that I would always be that: constantly seeking inspiration from negativity.

That was how I got into music and art was being a battle kid from Jersey, so I didn't have these wonderful ways of learning commitment, dedication, practicing skill.

I wonder a lot about making things meaningful. You want to do meaningful work and make art, but you're making records, which is good, but you don't want to weight them - it's a very curious thing.

I am not concerned about the 80 BMP consistency law of popular music. I'm concerned with other things, and they're very valid.

I'm at best on stage. It's one of the only places where I actually can feel like a million bucks.

Being on stage, it's like, "Ooo-kay, now I remember why all this is going wrong or right!" It's very much my element.

I can deal with all the pangs of having to find money in 20 different places because you don't really reap the whirlwind with this cutting-edge music.

I'd love to sign a contract for the soundtracks to every Wes Anderson movie, you know what I'm saying? Things like that, I have no spots on my conscience about.

Whether it's just the career path of doing independent music, being an artist, however you want to pigeon-hole it, it creates a certain type of character.

The reason I can do what I do on stage is because I couldn't fake it.

At best doing art you feel like you're led by something that doesn't involve you.

We are called to serve God and not to rely on our achievement in ministry

You life is full of purpose. Push past the set back and press into the set up.

Don't tell your friends their social faults they will cure the fault and never forgive you.

When I am idle and shiftless my affairs become confused when I work I get results ... not great results but enough to encourage me.

Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life.

The media only wants to get the view of the flaming radicals because they make better copy than those of us who are more sensible. I'm a feminist and I think I've done a lot of good.

You know that you're going to invest so much of your time on a movie when you direct it that it's something that just really has to jump out at you and pull at your heart, and nothing has.

Sometimes if something scares me, I lean right into it . I’m not a brave person— I’m more of a fearless idiot.

Pictures were made to entertain; if you want to send a message, call Western Union.

Show me who your friends are, and I will tell you what you are.