Shakespeare was a man who wrote poetry. I'm a man who writes poetry. Why not compare yourself to the best?
I'm not 40 yet. I wouldn't even bother comparing myself to Chaplin.
I'm a minor, stupid talent compared to my brother [Joaquin].
I'm not a dedicated writer in the sense of Stephen King.
If you could see yourself the way that others do, you'd wish you were as beautiful as you.
It has not yet been recorded that any human being has gained a very large or permanent contentment from meditation upon the fact that he is better off than others.
The sad problem is that we see ourselves as being quite terribly small. Instead of spending my time being envious, I need to celebrate your and my different gifts, even if mine are perhaps less spectacular than yours.
The moment you say, "We are proud. I'm proud to be this, and I'm proud to be that," what you're saying is we're almost as good as the others. "Almost" always means not quite.
People think because I've got some success, I've made it, but in my eyes it's like, 'How long has Jay Z been in the business? How many albums has he got?' Not that I'm trying to be Jay Z, but I am trying to be around for a long time.
I was shy: I sang at home but not in public. My dad's side of the family sang, so I would hear their voices and think mine couldn't compare.
As a newcomer, you know, you don't come out the gate as a singer and try to compare with Judy Garland.
I don't think my eyes are stunning as some people's are.
I'll never outdo Hank Williams. That's impossible.
I avoid envy at all costs.
I can cry myself to sleep because I'm not as great as Leonard Cohen, but who cares? Maybe you can't be as great as some people, but it's a tragedy when you don't follow your dreams.
People are going to make comparisons and they can do that but I'm definitely not going to compare myself to Derek Jeter.
I really try to play to my strengths, man. I'm never going to be Guthrie Govan: he's a brilliant player.
I will never reach the success that my dad has felt.
I don't really write beautifully naturally, unlike some people.
I think everyone is always measuring themselves against other people to a certain degree; it happens automatically, and it's hard not to be this way at least some of the time.
I wish I was super-serious, anguished. I see those actors, and I am like, 'Oh God, they are so cool, and they seem so interesting.' I don't take acting that seriously.
