Sonnets are guys writing in English, imitating an Italian song form. It was a form definitely sung as often as it was recited.

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.

I have always derived indescribable pleasure from leading a decent woman to the edge of sin and leaving her there to live between the temptation and the fear of that sin.

Storytelling--that's not the future. The future, I'm afraid, is flashes and impulses. It's mode up of moments and fragments, and stories won't survive.

Life and calling are founded on relationships with other people.

Without education we are in a horrible and deadly danger of taking educated people seriously.

Make your world extraordinary! Step out into this world with confidence and treasure yourself.

I don't think we should have justices appointed that decide what they want to hear.

It is always difficult to get across to people who are not professional writers that a talent to write does not mean a talent to write anything at all.

How would it be if we discovered that aliens only stopped by earth to let their kids take a leak?

Our attitude can give us an uncommonly positive perspective.

People think that at the end of the day a man is the only answer. Actually, a fulfilling job is better for me.