“The lifetime we’ve left behind with strangers Promises and lies both have their dangers. I just can’t be wrong enough and I can’t hide for long enough So far away, but I still feel your pain.”

I grew up listening to spiritual music, Blind Willie Johnson and folk.

You’re living life in real time, man, and we’ ve got a good amount of work to do for each other. Hiding is not an option and you’re going to step out and you’re going to make mistakes.

The spirit is what guides my life, and I’m humbly on my knees in thanks for guidance and direction every day. But God is not something to be preached, it’s something to be lived.

To go through this life and see it through – what it really is – and not be insane or addicted, is a minor miracle for anyone.

All that we can’t say is all we need to hear.

We’ve changed our reflections, but inside we’re just a child.

Genetics do play a role in how you consciously or subconsciously manifest your true self.

What enables me to believe in anything is hope.

In my life I have been blessed In my life I have been cursed I have lived the best of times I have suffered the worst Do you know which road you’re traveling? Do you know where you want to be? With so many roads to travel, There’s just one can set you free.

Love for me is my North Star. It’s the highest form of grace. And I love that there’s different levels and different ways of showing it, and different representations of it. Whether it’s love shown to a stranger, love to a sibling, your child, your parents, your partner.

It’s so hard to do and so easy to say but sometimes you just have to walk away

There’s no room in my life for religion. Religion is separation and segregation of God. How can you segregate the Almighty?

Music is the last true voice of the human spirit. It can go beyond language, beyond age, and beyond color straight to the mind and heart of all people.

Sometimes I may be totally arrogant, sometimes I may totally be the most humble guy you’ve ever met, sometimes I may be in between. But that’s life. Who isn’t like that? What’s the big deal if I had an arrogant moment.

I’ve never made a record that didn’t sound better than what was in my head – that’s sort of my rule.

You have to do what you believe in.

Any individual can contribute its own belief. And our society or even our government are made by the people. The people would have the final voice, but it requires each individual to act. If we don’t act, then the result is very clear.

For me, it is OK as long as I can breathe, as long as my heart is pumping, as long as I can express myself.

After I came back [to China], there was still a long period of time when I felt I had nothing to do.

As long as I can communicate, I’m not so lonely. If I cannot travel, or do art, or have company, if they take away all my belongings, it doesn’t matter at all.

If Afghan soldiers continue to kill American soldiers as is happening these days, it can hardly be assumed that they will stay in Afghanistan in the long term. And what role are they to play?

[Shanghai Biennale] has been my attitude for as long as I’ve been practicing art and other cultural-related activities.

The Stone Age did not end for lack of stone, and the Oil Age will end long before the world runs out of oil.

And China is not keen that the U.S. should be so close to its borders over a long period of time. Certainly, if the U.S. is going to be there for a long time, it’s going to exacerbate regional tensions.