When you burn the chair, you suddenly realize that the chair in your mind did not burn or disappear

I get very sad when I think about Vietnam where there seems to be no choice but violence. This violence goes on for centuries perpetuating itself.

Some people get medals and awards and all that, and maybe not intentionally - maybe the world is making them do it - but they sort of just follow what they were doing. Repeat or follow what they were doing all their lives, in their style of music or whatever. In my case, I always try to start from scratch. It's very nerve-wracking actually, but it's interesting.

When I speak out against the guns or against the big corporations, some of my friends say, 'Oh Yoko, be careful. These people have all the power.' But, you know, most people don't speak out because they are frightened.

When I was four years old, my mother put me into a school for early music education where you get perfect pitch and harmony and composition.

You have to release your emotion in order to keep your sanity.

Anger is an emotion that is very energetic. It is an ideal emotion to turn it around to make it work as a positive force.