The only way to avoid being unhappy is to close yourself up in Art and to count for nothing all the rest.

When I was younger I was terrified to express anger because it would often kick-start a horrible reaction in the men in my life. So I bit my tongue. I was left to painstakingly deal with the aftermath of my avoidance later in life in therapy or through the lyrics of my songs.

The primary distinction of the artist is that he must actively cultivate that state which most men necessarily must avoid the state of being alone.

Just as a cautious businessman avoids investing all his capital in one concern so wisdom would probably admonish us also not to anticipate all our happiness from one quarter alone.

I avoid talking before the youth of the age as I would dancing before them: for if one's tongue don't move in the steps of the day and thinks to please by its old graces it is only an object of ridicule.

Sometimes I think it would be easier to avoid old age to die young but then you'd never complete your life would you? You'd never wholly know you.

No one can avoid aging but aging productively is something else.