“My drive is other people’s success.”

Whatever is on the page is what I’m married to. I’m very prepared. I’m a thespian. I don’t like to improv. I don’t like to go off course ’cause I think that’s where stuff happens. When you stick to the material ’cause it’s written so well, that’s where the magic happens.

I’m never gonna step away from stand-up. I can’t. That’s what got me where I am, and that’s also my muse. That’s how I stay level-headed. That’s what keeps me going.

You make yourself broad. You make yourself appealing. ‘Hey, y’all, I’m cool with everybody.’ That’s my message.

When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. Once you get to the point where Hollywood sees that you create results, then the demand for you becomes higher.

I got a chance to work with Stallone and De Niro – pretty much sums it up for me. You can tell where you’re going in your career by the company you keep.

I’ve been known to preach.

Soul Plane’ put me in a position to succeed. I’m glad I had the opportunity to be the lead man.

The same thing I did in 2013 is what I’m trying to do in 2014, which is continue to improve, continue to shock people.

At the end of the day, I want to be part of the same conversation as Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Dave Chappelle, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor.

I’ve known Ben Stiller for a minute. One of my first movies was ‘Along Came Polly.’

When people get married young, you don’t really understand the true definition of marriage.

I’m good friends with Jay Leno, good friends with Ed O’Neill, Melanie Fiona and Russell Simmons.

My goals are so high that I don’t have time to relax in any way, shape or form.

It’s very rare that you get a director that lets you be creative and bring what you feel your character should do or should be.

The two things in the world we all share in this world are laughter and pain. We’ve all got problems. The levels of those problems vary, but we’ve all got problems.

I don’t take pictures when I’m with my kids, for the sake of my kids. It’s important when you’re as busy as I am that you give your kids your time when you’re with them, and nothing compromises that. I’ve been lucky enough to have fans that understand that.

Love, grief, and the complexity of being human are the driving forces for every artistic revolution.

Have Faith. Where’er thy bark is driven, – The calm’s disport, the tempest’s mirth, – Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven, The habitants of earth.

Whom Jupiter would destroy he first drives mad.

The Scots are a very tough people. They have drive-by headbuttings. In Glasgow a sweatband is considered a silencer.

Looking hard for a drive in, searching for a corner cafe, where the hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day.

My driving philosophy about making music is that you can reduce it all down to one note if that note is played with the right kind of sincerity.

Interviewers always used to ask me about my pageboy haircut, and it drove me nuts: it almost made me suspect that there was something strange about it. So I cut off my pageboy.

You can’t overthink the music. Mood and intensity can’t be manufactured. The blues isn’t about structure; it’s what you bring to it. The spontaneity of capturing a specific moment is what drives it.