We always hope, and in all things it is better to hope than to despair.

There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight.

The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.

The formation of one's character ought to be everyone's chief aim.

The Atlantic' really gave me my writing career - even just the conviction to be a writer.

They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art.

Portland in particular is a cheap enough place to live that you can still develop your passion - painting, writing, music. People seem less status-conscious. Even wealthy people buy second-hand clothes and look a little bit homeless.

I have to be involved. Whether it's me writing by myself or with other people, I definitely want to have my hand in the creative process. That's part of why I got into music in the first place.