Top 129 Quotes & Sayings by Ben Harper

As long as the songs are strong, I think you can express yourself in any style and have it be soulful and have it be your own voice.

You have to do what you believe in.

But I would never insult the people that love this music and I would never insult the blessing of music in my life and I would never insult myself by playing uninspired music.

You look like gold. I've been fooled before, but now I know I've made the mistake in the past. But now I, now I know the difference from gold and brass.

Every single time I step into the studio, I say, 'Can I still do this? Do I still have it? Have I ever had it?' I suppose there's a good amount of self-loathing that goes into any form of artisanship.

The only way that you can find any semblance of a rule, or make any semblance of your own rule, is to tear up the rulebook. Throw it out, burn it, throw it away, and make your own rules.

I really feel like the sky is the limit with the Innocent Criminals today.

I've never made a record that didn't sound better than what was in my head - that's sort of my rule.

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone - it's possible. But creatively, it's more like painting: you can't just use the same colours in every painting. It's just not an option. You can't take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.

So it's not so much that I set out to do something different, it's just that the songs themselves require their own individual voice and attention.

Life is short and if you're looking for extension, you had best do well. 'Cause there's good deeds and then there's good intentions. They are as far apart as Heaven and Hell.

We went for the best overall feel on each song. There are no musical overdubs at all. It's a true live record; it's one of the few true live records out there.

Sometimes I think to talk too much about music almost cheapens it.

You're definitely a different person at different stages in your life.

Genetics do play a role in how you consciously or subconsciously manifest your true self.

My family owns a music store in Claremont, California, called The Claremont Folk Music Center.

The music is in the lead here, and a large part of this, I have no idea what I'm doing. I feel a closer bond with the craft of songwriting, stronger than I ever have.

Folk is bare bones music.

If I fall, I fall. I'll rise up like anybody else.

I'm really looking forward to, not more of the same, but a continual growth.

If I'm inspired and music inspires me, then I will continue to play it.

We figured you could download live shows for days, so we decided to go for a cream-of-the-crop approach, but not just take the best vocal or the best performances.

The Blind Boys are truly the deepest well of American musical heritage you can discover.

I refuse to make uninspired music.

My head works in music, so there's always music there.

I love being on the road, I love playing.

I grew up with the Blind Boys' music. My family owns a music store in Claremont, California, called The Claremont Folk Music Center. I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.

It will make a weak man mighty. it will make a mighty man fall. It will fill your heart and hands or leave you with nothing at all. It's the eyes for the blind and legs for the lame. It is the love for hate and pride for shame. That's the power of the gospel.

That happens every time I get behind a guitar, regardless of what I'm saying, 'cause music is freedom and being free is the closest I've ever felt to being spiritual.

I get diminishing returns when I bore myself in an interview.

If it comes out sounding like Dixieland jazz or classical or punk or rock or even slightly metal, that's because that's where I'm going to find inspiration.

There is a difference between a great producer and somebody who is a big advocate of your music. Just because you're a big advocate for a band doesn't mean you need to be in the studio with them, and at the same time - we don't need to get into this conversation - you can write a hit, but it might not hit.

I just want to keep doing what I feel.

My main concern when travelling around the world is finding a place to skateboard!

When it comes to writers and poets, for me it's Vinicius de Moraes. He's one of the greatest lyricists ever.

The advice I have for new artists is this - write great songs and play them live as often as possible. Get residencies all over town and crush it.

I refuse to age disgracefully in rock 'n' roll.

Right now I'm listening to a lot of different things but I listen to a lot of classical music. Eventually I would like to compose and perform classical.

I grew up listening to spiritual music, Blind Willie Johnson and folk.

Sometimes I may be totally arrogant, sometimes I may totally be the most humble guy you've ever met, sometimes I may be in between. But that's life. Who isn't like that? What's the big deal if I had an arrogant moment.

I grew up with a heavy diet of gospel, folk, and blues because those are kind of the cornerstones of traditional American music.

I'm not going to do the Ben Harper house record or the Ben Harper drum 'n' bass record.

I really feel there's no limitation on what this band can do in the studio or on the stage. That's an empowering feeling - that we can bring a song to life.

A candle throws its light into the darkness, in a nasty world so shines a good deed. Make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need.

Music is the last true voice of the human spirit. It can go beyond language, beyond age, and beyond color straight to the mind and heart of all people.

If you're gonna live, then live it up. If you're gonna give, then give it up. If you're gonna walk the Earth, then walk it proud. If you're gonna say the word, you got to say it loud.

My choice is what I choose to do, And if I'm causing no harm, it shouldn't bother you. Your choice is who you choose to be, And if you're causin' no harm, then you're alright with me. If you don't like my fire, then don't come around, 'cause I'm gonna burn one down. Yes, I'm gonna burn one down. Herb the gift from the earth, And what's from the earth is of the greatest worth. So before you knock it try it first, Oh, you'll see it's a blessing and not a curse.

Hiding is not an option and you're going to step out and you're going to make mistakes. I'm going to look stupid. I'm going to say things I want to retract. I'm going to sing notes I wish I could have back, there's just no getting around the stumble, but if you stumble enough times you're going to fall off the edge and have no choice but to freakin' fly.

All that we can't say is all we need to hear.

It turns out that there is something more magnificent than nature. It's love.

Life's the longest picture you're ever gonna take.

What enables me to believe in anything is hope.

Of all the states of emotion I've ever been in, music takes me to the strongest state of emotion the quickest, of any other sort of state of mind I've ever been in or been put in by any substance or circumstance, music brings me to an emotional state of being faster than anything I've ever known

It's so hard to do and so easy to say but sometimes you just have to walk away

Every moral has a story, every story has and end. Every battle has its glory, and its consequence.

Don't let what you have to heal from blind you to how much there is to heal for.

As long as someone else controls your history the truth shall remain just a mystery

Fearlessness, absolutely. Discipline. You also need open-minded creativeness that lets everything in. You never want to lose a word or a phrase, yet every one should count. Always the best language possible. And, finally, knowing when to leave it alone. Stop when it's done.

Make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need.

When your whole world is shaken from all the risks we have taken, Dance with me, dance with me into the colors of the dusk.