I don't think I'm better than other people, I think I'm different from other people, because I do different things.

This extravagant dwelling, as domineering as it was distant, brought home to me the intimateconnection between tyranny and abstraction, and put me in mind of John Berger's observation that "abstraction's capacity to ignore what is real is undoubtedly where most evil begins."

I could compose and write music and get to share it with the masses and the people around the world and to have them to receive it so beautifully - I love that.

There are people that I am in love with, totally in love with them. I would die for them. I love Michelangelo. I love Charlie Chaplin with all my heart. I love Walt Disney. These are the people I am nuts over. These are my people. I love the great ones.

I'm not trying to be philosophical, but I really think it's my job to help children. And I don't care if people laugh.

I'm not a comedian. I'm not a show host. I'm a musician. That's why I've turned down offers to host the Grammy Awards and the American Music Awards. Is it really entertaining for me to get up there and crack a few weak jokes and force people to laugh because I'm Michael Jackson, when I know in my heart that I'm not funny?

It's [music composition] the most effortless thing in the world because you don't do anything. I hate to say it like that, but it's the truth.