“I’ve never written one note or word of music simply because I think it will make money.”

Summer means happy times and good sunshine. It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.

I wake up in the morning and I say ‘Ahh! Today’s the day for a song! I’m going to write a song today!’ And I do. I write a song.

You’re called a genius by people, and then your whole life you become the part.

I earned my famous name.

I was very, very financially secure my whole life. I have been very lucky to say that.

I like the piano – I’m always about 15 feet away from a piano.

I always do get a little bit paranoid when I get a lot of attention. But I get used to it.

I have auditory hallucinations, I hear voices saying derogatory things, like I’m terrible and I’m going to die, and they’re usually worse in the afternoon.

All of the artists did such a beautiful job I can’t thank them enough. I’m just honored that ‘God Only Knows’ was chosen. ‘God Only Knows’ is a very special song. An extremely spiritual song and one of the best I’ve ever written.

The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Phil Spector. Those were my idols.

I’m happy; I’m a happy person.

I can write songs, I’ve had songs in movies, but I can’t compose film scores, you know?

Surfing music is dead. It was just a summer craze for kids on the beach. I’m finished with it.

I’d earned over a million dollars by the time I was old enough to vote.

I meditate and I also think about meditation. Which is funny. I think about Maharishi, about just the idea of meditating. It gives me something.

I’m not a genius. I’m just a hard-working guy.

Scarcity of self value cannot be remedied by money, recognition, affection, attention or influence.

Campaigns are so much more expensive than people think they are. Just to keep the lights on is several thousand dollars a month.

A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.

I see people like me, who thought someone like me couldn’t be in politics, now are saying, ‘Oh, wait, I don’t need to take money from corporations to run. Maybe I’ll run, too.’

You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.

Because, to despise money, one must have plenty of it.

Success is when the checks don’t bounce.

My first date ever, I was kind of nervous, so I was like, ‘I’m going to bring Brady to this walk on the beach with this girl,’ and she was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I have a King Charles Cavalier, too.’ I’m like, ‘Money, perfect, amazing.’