To say yes, you have to sweat and roll up your sleeves and plunge both hands into life up to the elbows. It is easy to say no, even if saying no means death.

Always roll up the sleeves on your shirt. It gives the impression that you're working, even if you're not.

Saying no frees you up to say yes when it matters most.

You can't write about stuff you don't know about. You have to live it. You have to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty. Live life to be a good songwriter.

Our entire life consists ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are

You get to the point in life where you realize you have to roll up your sleeves, deal with the consequences of what happens, and carry your own weight.