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 SOLLEE
BEN SOLLEE
Ben Sollee on dad
Ben Sollee22 quotes“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?””
More from Ben 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.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee 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.
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 I feel really passionately about safe, comfortable roads, crosswalks, and sidewalks. Everyone of all economic backgrounds should be able to get to school or the grocery store safely and efficiently so they can live better lives.
Ben SolleeBen Sollee
Original quotes
From our community writers
I’ve grown tired of playing the warrior In the battle between me And my demons.
J.S BrownJ.S Brown No matter how many storms pass through it, this heart is still a gentle thing.
Sabina LauraSabina Laura If you want to start something great, you need commitment. But if you want to finish that something great, you need consistency.
Alison ButcherAlison Butcher Abundance is my birthright it starts with harvesting my inner light.
Shannon Van AlstShannon Van Alst I believed in the magic we made, but you were the magician and i was merely your puppet on stage.
Sophie AliaSophie Alia Eternity is vague. Let me fill in the blanks with you.
Addison SchmittAddison Schmitt Action is the key that solves all your problems.
Abel StarcAbel Starc His promises looked so promising that she just ignored the blatant truths.
Krishan PandeyKrishan Pandey
Meet the writers
More on dad
My dad’s like, If your mom and I are having sex and we videotape it and she falls out of bed funny, can I win ten-thousand dollars?
Bob SagetBob Saget When you get pure joy out of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’ or ‘seeing,’ that’s when you realize how big and unexplainable some things are and being a dad is one of those very few things.
Brendan FehrBrendan Fehr My dad was an engineer, and he became the CEO of Chevron. His was an engineer’s mind-set: Everything’s kind of a problem how do you approach the problem?
Bill KellerBill Keller My dad was a dentist but I wasn’t a hygienist. I assisted my dad.
Bill BurrBill Burr Barney’s Dad was really bad so Barney hatched a plan when his dad said “Eat your peas.” Barney shouted no and ran Barney tricked his mean old dad and locked him in the cellar Barney’s Mom never found out where he’d gone, Cause Barney didn’t tell her. T
Bill WattersonBill Watterson Calvin: Dad where do babies come from? Dad: Well Calvin, you simply go to Sears, buy the kit and follow the assembly instructions. Calvin: I came from Sears? Dad: No you were a blue-light special at K-Mart – almost as good and a lot cheaper!
Bill WattersonBill Watterson Since September it’s just gotten colder and colder. There’s less daylight now, I’ve noticed too. This can only mean one thing – the sun is going out. In a few more months the Earth will be a dark and lifeless ball of ice. Dad says the sun isn’t going out.
Bill WattersonBill Watterson My dad’s a musician, and he taught me how to play when I was three, I think, so I’ve been playing ever since. It’s something I’ve always done.
Bob SchneiderBob Schneider