To find a career to which you are adapted by nature, and then to work hard at it, is about as near to a formula for success and happiness as the world provides. One of the fortunate aspects of this formula is that, granted the right career has been found, the hard work takes care of itself. Then hard work is not hard work at all.

Why join the navy if you can be a pirate?

You would give up your career if you lost your voice for good, or if the impresarios stopped calling, or the audiences stopped coming. But as long as those things are there, I don't plan to stop. There is nothing that makes me feel better than to be with my public.

I want a big career, a big man, and a big life. You have to think big - that's the only way to get it... I just couldn't stand being anonymous.

I don't want to get into the habit of thinking about my career because when it comes down to it, it's not that important. I could die tomorrow and the world would go on. I don't want to separate myself from the rest of the world. If the world is not going too good, I'm part of that. I'll be happy to take the blame. I'm along for the ride.

I should think that being my old lady would be all the satisfaction or career any woman needs.

In the early days all I hoped was to make a living out of what I did best. But, since there's no real market for masturbation I had to fall back on my bass playing abilities.