Paul Simon Quotes (86 Quotes)

You want to be a writer, don't know how or when? Find a quiet place, use a humble pen.

Yesterday, it was my birthday I hung one more year on the line I should be depressed My life's a mess But I'm Having A Good Time...

I would be willing to do almost anything to make Art happy. I care about our friendship. The only thing I won't do is change the essence of my work.

I question what emotion Manilow touches. People are entertained by him. But are they emotionally moved? I don't believe anything that Barry Manilow sings.

Artie is a singer, and I'm a writer and player and a singer. We didn't work together on a creative level and prepare the songs. I did that.

It's pointless to be critical of your stuff once it's done. I don't spend a lot of time agonising over it. It's of no importance once it's finished.

I don't believe what the papers are saying They're just out to capture my dime, Exaggerating this, exaggerating that.

It's a big error to think that because you like somebody's work, you're going to like him.

People often called us perfectionists, but we were not looking for perfection. We were looking for some kind of magic in the music.

Facts can be turned into art if one is artful enough.

Hello lamp post, what ya knowin' I come to watch your flowers growin'. Ain't you got no rhymes for me do do do do... feelin' groovy.

If you can get humor and seriousness at the same time, you've created a special little thing, and that's what I'm looking for, because if you get pompous, you lose everything.

Most people don't experience what I fell into -- all the success. To make your living from something you love is really an unusual piece of good fortune. It's a privilege to make your living out of recording your life.

Some people never say the words 'I love you'. It's not their style to be so bold. Some people never say those words 'I love you' But, like a child, they're longing to be told.

All lies and jests, still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.

Listen to the sound of silence.

Fat Charlie the archangel files for divorce, he says, well this will eat up a year of my life, and there's all that weight to be lost.

I try to open up my heart as much as I can and keep a real keen eye out that I don't get sentimental. I think we're all afraid to reveal our hearts. It's not at all in fashion.

Faith is an island in the setting sun, But proof is the bottom line for everyone.

Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.

The record company stay out of my way. Whenever the record is finished, they take it.

When we came into the studio I became more and more me, making the tracks and choosing the musicians, partly because a great deal of the time during Bridge, Artie wasn't there.

We just did what we'd done when we were an act in the '60s. But I found it impossible to hold a dialogue with 500,000 people. In a certain sense, it was numbing.

Who am I to blow against the wind?

I don't like fashion. It's very heartless.

When I was 15, I made a solo record. It made Artie very unhappy. He looked upon it as something of a betrayal.

The thought that life could be better is woven indelibly into our hearts and our brains.

And so you see I have come to doubt All that I once held as true I stand alone without beliefs The only truth I know is you

I think I have a superior brain and an inferior stature, if you really want to get brutal about it.

Anybody can do bad work, but not everybody does good work.

I don't think that Simon and Garfunkel as a live act compares to Simon and Garfunkel as a studio act.

Artie travels all the time. The rehearsals were just miserable. Artie and I fought all the time. He didn't want to do the show with my band; he just wanted me on acoustic guitar.

Sail on, Silver girl Sail on by Your time has come to shine All your dreams are on their way See how they shine

We've survived by believing our life is going to get better.

For those who thought it was going to be some kind of a snow job because it was paid for by the cable industry, it says very clearly we have to do a better job,

Mrs. Robinson is a little dated now, but it has nothing to do with Joe DiMaggio.

We were always able to sing and blend well together; that's our gift. But aside from that, we're really two different guys.

I rate each album as better than the last one. That's how I see it.

She comes back to tell me she's gone. As if I didn't know that, as if I didn't know my own bed. As if I'd never noticed the way she brushed her hair from her forehead.

It is not a deterrent. It is in a very real sense a revenge by society. ... Revenge is not a proper motivation by the government. Justice should be our aim. I think these recommendations ... will improve our system of justice,

A man sees what he wants to see, And disregards the rest.

How much can you do with two voices? You can sing thirds or you can sing fifths or you can do a background harmony.

Why am I so soft in the middle when the rest of my life is so hard?

My life so common it disappears and sometimes even music cannot substitute for tears.

Time, time, time, See what's become of me, While I look around all my possibilities

Later, Norah Jones played piano while Willie Nelson sang Still Crazy After All These Years, ... Crazy.

I always get very calm with baseball.

If you were to pick a role model on the court, living or dead, what role model or composite role model would it be

My whole artistic life has always been about change, change, change, move on, move on. It's the only thing I find interesting.

As long as you have capital punishment there is no guarantee that innocent people won't be put to death.