“Painting is a magical process that I like, where you conjure something out of nothing; you get a little idea that leads you through. You can go into a trance while you’re doing it, so it’s a nice contrast to real life.”

The willow turns his back on inclement weather. And if he can do it, we can do it.

The interesting thing about the Beatles was: The music was one thing, but we kind of symbolized a certain kind of freedom at a time when people of our generation were just growing up and just becoming adults.

It’s like if you’re an astronaut and you’ve been to the moon, what do you want to do with the rest of your life?

Hamburg totally wrecked us. I remember getting home to England and my dad thought I was half-dead. I looked like a skeleton, I hadn’t noticed the change, I’d been having such a ball!

I think the French girls are fabulous.

Somewhere down the line everyone must pay for their misdeeds.

I’m not religious, but I’m very spiritual.

It’s a powerful thing hearing your friend on a very beautiful song.

But with writers, there’s nothing wrong with melancholy. It’s an important color in writing.

But you know, as a kid I would have thought of a vegetarian as a wimp.

I am alive and well and unconcerned about the rumors of my death. But if I were dead, I would be the last to know.

I think the minute you’re full up and have had enough to eat, then that’s time to retire.

Lyricists play with words.

When we were kids growing up in Liverpool, all we ever wanted to be was Elvis Presley.

I feel like the sixties is about to happen. It feels like a period in the future to me, rather than a period in the past.

I definitely did look up to John. We all looked up to John. He was older and he was very much the leader; he was the quickest wit and the smartest.