The creative core of New York has never been native New Yorkers; it's people from all over the world.

I think the criticism that I take to heart is from other writers that I respect.

I was comparatively late in understanding Bob Dylan's overwhelming importance as a songwriter. Everybody who does my job exists in the shadow of Bob Dylan. There are two categories: Dylan and everybody else. It's as simple as that. And it's going to be that way until he dies.

I don't get in vote in whether or how people remember me when I'm gone. It's really dangerous to sit around and worry about it too much, for me. It gets me way too in myself to worry about what people are going to think about me when I'm not around anymore.

I'm not a Democrat; I'm something well to the left of a Democrat, but I'm just realistic about the system.

I'm supposed to make people cry, but not by manipulating.

You know I ain't never prayed before 'Cause it always seemed to me That prayin's the same as beggin' Lord, I don't take no charity.