Ben Sollee on cheating
Ben Sollee22 quotes“I felt like I was cheating myself of those communities and cheating the audience because I wasn’t able to know them. That’s what the bikes did, without me having to put any arbitrary philosophy on what it was supposed to be. It enabled human connection.”
More from Ben Sollee
Everything he asks gets me thinking. If I’m going to do this, sacrifice time with family and friends, sacrifice resources, I need to think carefully about what I going to say and how I’m going to say it.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee When we cut off access to certain parts of our cities to people on bikes or in wheelchairs, we’re not only doing economic damage, we’re also doing culture damage.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee I’m interested in questions my son asks me, like, “Why do animals fight? Why do you have to leave us to go on the road?” Everything he asks gets me thinking.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee New York is the culture capital of the world because people are running into each other on the street all the time. They are forced to engage in creativity and problem-solving.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee It’s funny, people often ask me, “Why do you do bike tours where it takes three times the effort and you make one-third of the money?” My answer is that I’m trying to do it ethically. What does that mean, exactly? That conflict is a big part of my art.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee But that would put me on a path that would make me totally divergent from who I am. I don’t have to go through the heartache many other people go through, of figuring out what makes them “wealthy.” I know what brings me joy.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee There are not a lot of paths through the woods for someone who sings, plays the cello, and wants to tour on a human scale and create change in the world. I’m on my own path. It’s pretty awesome.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee I’m definitely musician and storyteller. But I always like to take an active role in things I care about socially and environmentally.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee The reason I make art is because I get to make a choice about who I am, what I do, and what I put out into the world, the footsteps I leave behind.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee You pull into the venue, check into the cheap hotel you can afford, eat whatever is there, sleep, wake up, and repeat. You’re not really participating in the community.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee For every show that we do, anyone that rides public transit, bikes, or walk, we offer them a $5 voucher at the merch table. It gets people using the infrastructure in the area.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee I’m a husband and a dad. Two thirds of my day is spent being that character. It’s a huge part of my identity and why I pursue things I do. I’m interested in questions my son asks me, like, “Why do animals fight? Why do you have to leave us to go on the road?”
Ben SolleeBen Sollee I’m a husband and a dad. Two thirds of my day is spent being that character. It’s a huge part of my identity and why I pursue things I do.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee Hopefully, the venues where we play will lobby city council and say, we need bike paths, sidewalk repair. That stuff affects so many people’s lives.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee Cities like Portland, Seattle, and Long Beach, which have made these investments in their infrastructure, are seeing not only health advantages, but also a lot more exchange in the community, which leads to better policy-making and stronger communities.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee I’m in a position I never imagined I’d be in as a musician. Bob Dylan built an audience through recording and live shows. The opportunities for an artist today are totally different.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee
Original quotes
From our community writers
Poetry is the voice of the soul and the inspiration of the heart.
Teresa PeresTeresa Peres But it was now time for her to go away-to find someone who could show her what happiness was.
Lang LeavLang Leav Just because you haven’t seen how wonderful, beautiful, and special she is, doesn’t mean no one else will.
Norah RoseNorah Rose A memory is a star or a stain.
Aneena BijuAneena Biju Love her, but don’t forget to leave her wild.
Little PaulsonLittle Paulson Do your own thing and live your way of happiness.
Emily BockEmily Bock I’ve experienced departure far too much to have the courage and call anyone my own.
Mira R. AridiMira R. Aridi More often than I am not, all I need is the rise of my own lungs – I am already complete.
Shelby EnsignShelby Ensign
Meet the writers
More on cheating
You didn’t just cheat on me; you cheated on us. You didn’t just break my heart; you broke our future.
Steve MaraboliSteve Maraboli Cunning cheats itself wholly, and other people partially.
Miguel de CervantesMiguel de Cervantes Don’t cheat the world of your contribution. Give it what you’ve got.
Steven PressfieldSteven Pressfield I hate cheating. I won’t put up with it. I don’t do it myself.
Ava GardnerAva Gardner It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.
Samuel JohnsonSamuel Johnson That one true heart was left behind! What feeling do we ever find, to equal among human kind, a dog’s fidelity!
Thomas HardyThomas Hardy When students cheat on exams, it’s because our school system values grades more than students value learning.
Neil deGrasse TysonNeil deGrasse Tyson Every age that has historical status is governed by aristocracies. Aristocracy with the meaning – the best are ruling. Peoples do never govern themselves. That lunacy was concocted by liberalism. Behind its people’s sovereignty the slyest cheaters are hiding, who don’t want to be recognized.
Joseph GoebbelsJoseph Goebbels
