Jasper Johns Quotes

I want people to... not be afraid of their truth.

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.

Letting go of things and not being afraid of being ridiculous or over the top - I think that's the main thing for me to work on.

I really don't have any secrets. I've never met a photographer whose work I respected that had a secret because the secret lies within each and every one of us.

If I hold back any part of me, I suppress that much energy and potential. The question I want to ask myself now is not what behavior is good or bad, but in what ways would I express myself with greater energy if I didn't hold back.

Doing 'Life Without Makeup' onstage is what inspired me to do a book in the first place.

As I grew in confidence, I was able to come out and say that I'm a musician.

You can't ever create defensively. You just have to create the next thing that really speaks to you.

I don't feel I have to be Jackson Browne. Still, I like to say something.

For me, the best way to be as an artist is to be completely yourself, letting that vulnerability come through.

I have never been able to separate - nor have I wanted to - my personal love and desire for truth, passion, and understanding from my lyrics.

My music just stands for being true to who you are.

You've got to be oblivious to other people, the push and pull of other people's opinions, the way other people measure success. It's then that you realize you are 100 percent who you are and you have to use that who-you-are 100 percent in order to create great things.

Do we dare be ourselves? That is the question that counts.

Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?

I was fine being in the closet at the beginning of my career because that's what you were supposed to be - until I realized that it didn't serve anybody, and I was left feeling utterly empty. This is who I am, so I've gotta be me.

I decided at 15 that I didn't want to be one of those artists that gets up and sings love songs they don't mean. I decided that I was going to be me to the fullest extent, that my songs were going to reflect relationships I've had, things I've been through, and even the stuff I'm embarrassed about.

There are people we look up to, like Lady Gaga and what she's built. She's not afraid to own who she is.

We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be.

The songs come from a vulnerable place, but expressing that part of yourself can also make you feel fearless.

Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.

It's not always easy to identify your own voice. It comes with time.

You write who you are somehow. Even if you try to not to. You can't help but write who you are. I'm just not a very cynical person. I believe in the humanity of people, whether it is just the guys in 'The Full Monty' or Aron Ralston.

I didn't start to work until I realized what it was I had to offer. I stopped imitating performers I admired and started just being myself.

During 'Hawthorne', I was constantly trying not to be too outrageous and keep it serious. This has been so refreshing for me because it's such a good outlet for the inner me to just be. That's the whole point of 'Glee' anyways - to just be who you are and that's enough. I really feel that way on set.