With all the negativity going on in the world right now people need an escape. When you give them a hit record or a great record it allows them to escape for at least three to four minutes. They're not thinking bills or economy or immigration or war when you create that kind of ambiance.

I've felt that if you dwell too much on your errors you're dealing in the negativity of things. I don't like that. I'd rather work on the positive reinforcement the things I did well.

Political consultants are pugilists masters in the dark art of negativity. Which is why it's surprising to hear Democrats such as Steve McMahon and Republicans like Rich Galen urging their presidential candidates to be more well positive.

That's my gift. I let that negativity roll off me like water off a duck's back. If it's not positive I didn't hear it. If you can overcome that fights are easy.

There has been a shift to what may be defined as a culture of negativity which goes well beyond coverage of politics.

I feel good about being able to take bluegrass on to television like 'Letterman' and 'The View ' and I've heard nice things about being able to do that. I really haven't felt any negativity toward me or my music.

If there's not drama and negativity in my life all my songs will be really wack and boring or something.

While negativity is politically useful it is also demoralizing unless it is accompanied - and to some extent overshadowed - by elevated and inspiring ideas about the American future.

There have been times when I felt suicidal and I would stop my head from going in that direction of negativity because I thought there'd be something I'd miss that was funny in the future. If there's a chance I'm going to laugh tomorrow then want to live to experience that.

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy happiness negativity pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life not to deny my humanity but embrace it.