My politics were really radical when I was younger, and then I moderated like everyone else does when they start having kids.

Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the whole world, and I'll stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in my cowboy boots and say that.

America's criminal justice system isn't known for rehabilitation. I'm not sure that, as a society, we are even interested in that concept anymore.

I don't believe that songwriting has to be profound, but I truly believe that it's a crime for you to go outta your way for it not to be.

I have a low tolerance for mediocrity in music and life. I'm into pain and joy and the in-between doesn't interest me.

Actually, in its purest form, Islam is incredibly tolerant. That makes what's going on in the world really bizarre.

All we do as songwriters is rewrite the songs that have impressed us till we find our own voice. It's part of learning the craft.

You see things differently at 40 than you do at 31. Especially if you got to 40 the way I did.

Every day on Earth is another chance to get it right.

I don't really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself.

To me, religion is an agreement between a group of people about what God is. Spirituality is a one-on-one relationship.

A great book allows me to leap over that wall: in a deep, significant conversation with another consciousness, I feel human and unalone.

I'm not typically a roller coaster person, but Space Mountain I really love out of all roller coasters. That and Splash Mountain.

I love doing comedy. It's a lot of fun.

The single most impressive fact about the attempt by American women to obtain the right to vote is how long it took.

One thing Barack Obama is: He's a good campaigner. He's a terrible president.

Follow not after the vain, understand the ills of sense pleasures. One who is vigilant and meditative, obtains deep joy.

I will carry on writing, to be sure. But I don't know if I would want to publish again after Harry Potter.

whoever said progress was a positive thing has never been to Florida or California.

We can't all come and go by bubble!

All her life she had made her own mistakes and her own successes, both usually by trying what others said she could not do.