I've always stood up for country music.

Hee Haw was probably my biggest exposure to live music at a young age, because there wasn't any live music around my town and no one in my family played instruments.

A country song is a song about life.

Faith, hope, and love are some good things He gave us; but the greatest is love

The older you are, I think you realize what you enjoy and what you don't need, what wears you out and what's important.

To me, songwriting is the backbone of Nashville. Looks can go, fads can go, but a good song lasts forever.

I don't like politics, hypocrites, folks with poodles.

Tonight I'm the designated drinker.

I'm usually just enjoying life.

I'm hooked on my baby's love, there ain't nothing in the jug this strong.

Did you stand there in shock at the sight of that black smoke risin' against that blue sky? Did you shout out in anger, in fear of your neighbor or did you just sit down and cry?..

I am incapable of conceiving infinity, and yet I do not accept finity. I want this adventure that is the context of my life to go on without end.

Sometimes you're sure dogs have some secret, superior intelligence, and other times you know they're only their simple, goofy selves.

I tend to think you're fearless when you recognize why you should be scared of things, but do them anyway.

There are two men inside the artist, the poet and the craftsman. One is born a poet. One becomes a craftsman.

Wisdom is corrupted by ambition, even when the quality of the ambition is intellectual. For ambition, even of this quality, is but a form of self-love.

​When suddenly you find yourself on the wrong highway, perhaps it's time for a new job, or some new friends. It's your life - live it.

If you were to look back at me as a school kid you'd see a very quiet little church mouse kind of character.

I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct.

Some days, I'd feel better with Punxsutawney Phil in the Oval Office - at least he doesn't lie about the weather.

I must dedicate my life to teaching my people, for only education would make their lot less bitter, their latent power more strong.