Quotes By Billy Joel

I consider myself to be an inept pianist, a bad singer, and a merely competent songwriter. What I do, in my opinion, is by no means extraordinary.

I'm a history nut.

As human beings, we need to know that we are not alone, that we are not crazy or completely out of our minds, that there are other people out there who feel as we do, live as we do, love as we do, who are like us.

I really wish I was less of a thinking man and more of a fool not afraid of rejection.

Those who have expressed doubts and misgivings about their ability to live this kind of life shouldn't try, because being a musician is not something you chose to be, it is something you are.

If you make music for the human needs you have within yourself, then you do it for all humans who need the same things. You enrich humanity with the profound expression of these feelings.

I have been both praised and criticized. The criticism stung, but the praise sometimes bothered me even more. To have received such praise and honors has always been puzzling to me.

Don't make music for some vast, unseen audience or market or ratings share or even for something as tangible as money. Though it's crucial to make a living, that shouldn't be your inspiration. Do it for yourself.

I've crashed my car three times.

There's nothing better than good sex. But bad sex? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than bad sex.

It feels great to have a #1 album.

I was drawn to boxing because I got beat up as a kid. I was the kid with the piano books in a New York neighbourhood.

If you are not doing what you love, you are wasting your time.

I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.

I have a theory that the only original things we ever do are mistakes.

When I was a young musician, the only option available to pursue secondary education in music was to attend a classical conservatory.

When I was 19, I made my first good week's pay as a club musician. It was enough money for me to quit my job at the factory and still pay the rent and buy some food. I freaked.

There's a deep-seated paranoia that Americans have about not being Americans or something.

In a way, we are magicians. We are alchemists, sorcerers and wizards. We are a very strange bunch. But there is great fun in being a wizard.

I am no longer afraid of becoming lost, because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist.

More than art, more than literature, music is universally accessible.

If you tell kids they can't have something, that's what they want.

I can't think of one person I've ever met who didn't like some type of music.