River Phoenix Quotes

Why am I who I am? It's the way I was raised.

I think the fact that I was raised in show business, in New York City, in the '50s, that's affected my personality to the point that I'm a little different.

A man is a man in every part of the world. It has nothing to do with race. It has to do with the culture and education that each man has received since he was a child, in his home. It has to do with how he was raised.

For me, being raised in a free America made all the difference.

My mom told me as a youngster I was always intellectual, like as far as being able to adapt fast and quick. But I had a fun childhood, went to regular school.

I think innocence is something that adults project upon children that's not really there.

Style is the image of character.

My upbringing is why I am the person I am today. I have very wise parents.

People often ask me about my upbringing, and if there was anything particular about it that made me become a cartoonist.

Every person has a different view of another person's image. That's all perception. The character of a man, the integrity, that's who you are.

I've known Al Gore since he was born. He has been the best little boy, he was a boring child, and he has never done anything wrong.

When I first started, especially because I got the Critics' Choice before I'd released an album, there was a lot of scrutiny on what my character was, what my background was, what colour my hair was. I fought quite hard for the music to overtake the personality aspect.

My parents were funny. My brothers were funny. We just laughed and had a good time. Growing up, it breeds that. It breeds your funny. It breeds your creativity.

Growing up in my household with seven women, I'd hear all types of music.

When I was 6, 7 years old, I was raised on all the old-school stuff. My momma used to play oldies in the house. That's all my momma used to play around the house was oldies.

I literally grew up in the church.

Traveling has been a really big part of my upbringing and I've been fortunate enough to travel for different reasons. I'd like to think that it has had an impact on my character and personality, which ultimately affects my music.

There's always been music in my house growing up. In the kitchen, there's a speaker, and we'd always have my mum's iPod in it - she never makes food without listening to music. And I used to watch 'Top of the Pops' with my dad.

Growing up, I didn't have any inspirations.

I was raised hearing music everywhere I went.

I got a different persona than a lot of these other guys.

The key is to be a personality outside of the ring and then bring that personality with you inside the ring.

They [teachers] beat it right out of me. Or they beat it into me and educated it out of me. I don't know; that's an interesting question. The Catholic schools required work, so I think that may have been where the work ethic came from, in answer to the question of how my character may have been shaped.

I am who I am because of the people who I grew up with and where I'm from.

There was very little art in my childhood.