“I’m not bitter. Why should I be bitter? I’m thrilled to death with life.”

There’s no way around grief and loss: you can dodge all you want, but sooner or later you just have to go into it, through it, and, hopefully, come out the other side. The world you find there will never be the same as the world you left.

The things that have always been important: to be a good man, to try to live my life the way God would have me, to turn it over to Him that His will might be worked in my life, to do my work without looking back, to give it all I’ve got, and to take pride in my work as an honest performer.

Creative people have to be fed from the divine source. I have to get fed. I had to get filled up in order to pour out.

It’s good to believe in yourself, but there are people out there who can make or break you.

It takes a real man to live for God-a lot more man than to live for the devil, you know? If you really want to live right these days, you gotta be tough.

My arms are too short to box with God.

Until things are brighter. I’m the man in black.

Love is a burning thing and it makes a firey ring.

There is a spiritual side to me that goes real deep, but I confess right up front that I’m the biggest sinner of them all.

I came to believe in a power much higher than I.

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you’re mine, I walk the line.

You can ask the people around me. I don’t give up. I don’t give up. I don’t give – and it’s not out of frustration and desperation that I say I don’t give up. I don’t give up because I don’t give up. I don’t believe in it.

The fire and excitement may be gone now that we don’t go out there and sing them anymore, but the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout.

A person knows when it just seems to feel right to them. Listen to your heart.

When I think about country music, I think about America.

If you’re going to be a Christian, you’re going to change. You’re going to lose some old friends, not because you want to, but because you need to.

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.

Have you felt the bitterness of a world without hugs?

I am neither bitter nor cynical but I do wish there was less immaturity in political thinking.

In life you have a choice: Bitter or Better? Choose better, forget bitter.

The saints had no hatred, no bitterness; they forgive everything and think they deserve much more for their offenses against God.

But, truly, I have wept too much! The Dawns are heartbreaking. Every moon is atrocious and every sun bitter.

I never met a bitter person who was thankful. Or a thankful person who was bitter.

One evening I sat Beauty on my knees – And I found her bitter – And I reviled her.