I lost in the second round of the French Open and had 10 days off. I went to the Hard Rock Cafe. It was exciting to be away from my parents, to stay in a hotel. Hotels at 17 meant freedom.

I want to be free; to escape. I use my pen as oars; the paper as my boat. I fill these pages to keep me afloat. I ride the waves of turmoil, so I can paddle away to calmer seas.

Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us, and a new beauty waiting to be born.

Sorrow is the rust of the soul and activity will cleanse and brighten it.

He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.

I have never started a poem yet whose end I knew. Writing a poem is discovering.

I just wanted to see how the shorts felt again.

You will never know what the meaning of Jazz is if ask what it means.

I think the environmental problem will be the number one item on the agenda of the 21st century… This is a problem that cannot be postponed.

She doesn’t let me have control anymore. I must’ve crossed a line, I must’ve lost my mind.

I’m a product of pop culture.

All our progress is an unfolding, like a vegetable bud. You have first an instinct, then an opinion, then a knowledge as the plant has root, bud, and fruit. Trust the instinct to the end, though you can render no reason.

Jazz musicians are the only workers who will put in a full shift for pay and then go somewhere else and continue to work for free.

He ate and drank the precious Words, his Spirit grew robust; He knew no more that he was poor, nor that his frame was Dust

Right now, make a list of what you admire about yourself- don’t stop until you’ve filled a page. Sit and relish each quality and accomplishment. When you remember how much you have to be proud of, you don’t need to envy others. Instead of wallowing in your jealousy, use your friends’ accomplishments as inspiration to pursue the life you want.

If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse is that I brag for humanity rather than for myself.

Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.

I had the pleasure of competing at the Olympic Games and at Wimbledon and was fortunate enough to win the gold medal in both events,

I would like to thank my father who discouraged me from playing the violin at an early age.

I was the original pop star, knocking off as many birds as you could get in one night. Pete’s got a bit of a chip, because I used to get all the girls.

My mother’s a psychologist, my stepfather’s a psychologist, my stepmother is a therapist and my dad’s a lawyer. So it was all prominent in my life. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know someone on some form of prescription medicine.