New York is the thing that seduced me.

I don't feel that censorship keeps me from doing the work, though. I'm my bigger censor.

I had gone to Paris to immerse myself in painting and I came back wholly involved in words and rhythms.

Build a good name. Keep your name clean. Don’t make compromises, don’t worry about making a bunch of money or being successful. Be concerned about doing good work. Protect your work and if you build a good name, eventually that name will be its own currency. Life is like a roller coaster ride, it is never going to be perfect. It is going to have perfect moments and rough spots, but it’s all worth it.

I don't like answering to other people's philosophies. I don't have any philosophy, I just believe in stuff. Either I believe in something or I don't. Like, I believe in the Rolling Stones but not in the Dave Clark Five. There's nothing philosophic about it. Whenever I'm linked with a movement, it pisses me off.

I think some of that hopelessness of my generation got passed on to later generations - the sense of uselessness.

I walk alone, assaulted it seems, by tears from heaven.