Quotes

(About his songs) "Some may find them merely diverting melodies. Others may find them incitements to Red revolution. And who will say if either or both is wrong? Not I." - (Interview: "Rolling Stone Magazine"; April 13, 1972)

Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don't.

Songs are weapons.

[I receive letters] asking if I will come and accept an award someplace. This is a more general letter: "Dear so and so, thank you for your invitation, but...." A big word "but." I work hard on these letters: "My lefty reputation kept me out of the spotlight, but now I've blown my cover. I have to say no to all sorts of good people who want me to listen to their CD, read their book...."

People wanting autographs. I have a special form letter that starts off: "I wish I could persuade you that collecting autographs is one of the more foolish ways we can spend our precious days. There are important things needing to be done in every community." How can people be brought together to do these important things? I've tried with banjos and boats.

It's a very important thing to learn to talk to people you disagree with.

To every thing {turn, turn, turn} There is a season [turn, turn, turn] And a time for every purpose under heaven.

I still call myself a communist, because communism is no more of what Russia made of it than Christianity is what churches make of it. But if by some freak of history communism had caught up with this country, I would have been one of the first people thrown in jail.

If I've got a talent, it's for picking the right song at the right time for the right audience. And I can always get people to sing with me.

If there's something wrong, speak up!

Songs won't save the planet, but neither will books or speeches.

[further testimony] I decline to discuss, under compulsion, where I have sung, and who has sung my songs, and who else has sung with me, and the people I have known. I love my country very dearly, and I greatly resent the implication that some of the places I have sung and some of the people that I have known, and some of my opinions, whether they are religious or philosophical, or I might be a vegetarian, make me any less of an American. I will tell you about my songs, but I am not interested in telling you who wrote them. I will tell you about my songs, and I am not interested in who listened to them.

[excerpt from testimony to the House Un-American Activities Committee: August 18, 1955] I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I am proud that I never refuse to sing to an audience, no matter what religion or the color of their skin or situation in life. I have sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers. And I am proud that I never refused to sing for anybody.

The world would never amount to a hill of beans if people didn't use their imaginations to think of the impossible.

Where have all the flowers gone Long time passing?