Kanye West

I really appreciate the moments that I was able to win rap album of the year or whatever.

In today's world, having money has allowed people who are extremely uncool to think that they're cool and carry it like that. People who really are cool and people who really are artists and have ideas have to literally turn in their cool card to society just to make it past the age of 28.

My goal is just to be respected as a man when I walk down the street with my family. I don't care what your job is, you're not gonna talk down to me, you're not gonna try to get a rise out of me. I'm a man first. And in establishing that, some interesting things have happened.

Do I worry about being in the public eye and raising kids? Yeah. Any situation you're in, you're gonna worry about raising kids. But it's champagne problems, too. There are people who can't feed their kids.

I used to have insecurity about my finances, then I announced that I had debt, and now I don't have any insecurities.

For me, money is not my definition of success. Inspiring people is a definition of success.

I dislike the concept of 'chic' being the highest compliment for a human being. I'd rather someone be nice than to be chic.

It's not 'can'; it's 'will.' You have to will things into fruition.

The dinosaurs aren't remembered for much more than their bones. When humanity's gone, what do we give to this little planet that we're on, and what could we do collectively, removing the pride?

I would never want a book's autograph. I am a proud non-reader of books.

I don't know what's better gettin' laid or gettin' paid.

I would hear stories about Steve Jobs and feel like he was at 100 percent exactly what he wanted to do, but I'm sure even a Steve Jobs has compromised. Even a Rick Owens has compromised. You know, even a Kanye West has compromised. Sometimes you don't even know when you're being compromised till after the fact, and that's what you regret.