What saves me from being a drug addict is sort of the opposite. It's me realizing that I don't really control anything.

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.

If it takes you more time to clean your makeup than to watch a movie… you already have a problem.

The great thing about church is that it has people in it - and people can be tricky

Dying seems less sad than having lived too little.

A high-performing digital mind can think logically, but outside of the box as well.

An MBA doesn’t impress me. A GSD does. GSD = Gets Stuff Done.

Faith moves mountains, but only knowledge moves them to the right place.

Have a hand in your own treatment. I have nothing but praise for our doctors, but I think they could help us better, and we can help them if we work together.

If children are different from us, they are more spontaneous. Grown-up lives have become overlaid with dross.

I suppose I felt guilty not to be doing something more important, more political. So in a way I am trying to use the company for these other activities.

I think it's much more interesting to live not knowing than to have answers which might be wrong.