Libraries are a hallmark of a civilized culture, and librarians represent that culture to all facets of society.

There will always be those people who are just backward and ignorant. There will always be those people. They need somebody to feel superior to.

I think I grew up, stopped worrying about what people thought of me, and whether things were going to turn out OK. I'm concentrating on doing the best work I can do and letting it go at that.

Going off the road just leaves me more time to be a writer.

I love seeing teachers outside of school. It's like seeing a dog walk on its hind legs.

I see interracial couples all the time in Nashville. I'm a Jew in Nashville. I'm a gay person in Nashville. It's a non-issue in most of the time. That's a huge leap forward.

Artists are taught to be humble about their impact, especially in folk music. It's so ingrained that I have a hard time even thinking I had any impact other than what a normal hit song would have.