I work hard, and I do good, and I'm going to enjoy myself. I'm not going to let you restrict me.

Do not let it be your aim to be something, but to be someone.

My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.

It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.

Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they'll hear my guitars speaking for me.

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.

Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength.

I just couldn't take school seriously: I had this guitar neck with four frets which I kept hidden under the desk. It had strings on it so I would practice my chord shapes under the desk and that's about all I did at school.

When written in Chinese, the word 'crisis' is composed of two characters. One represents danger, the other opportunity.

It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.

I will never be by violence constrained to do anything.

Whenever a negative thought concerning your personal power comes to mind, deliberately voice a positive thought to cancel it out.

I do not want to die rusting, I prefer to burn out.

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him.

Sovereignty is not given, it is taken.

Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.

To succeed in your mission, you must have single-minded devotion to your goal.

Change your thoughts and you change your world.

I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion'.

You can't live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you.

A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.