First feelings are always the most natural.
As soon as I reach any town, I talk to the shoe-shine boys or the barbers or the people in the restaurants, because it's Mr. Joe Doakes who is very close to reality.
Words of wisdom are spoken by children at least as often as scientists.
We can't stop people from thinking what they want to.
The records are black boxes for me. Like, if you want to know who I am, my views, my perspective, things I love, things I hate, my convictions, my anthems. I've never let people's opinions affect the way I write.
I don't think I ever write songs involving politics, because they get dated way too quick. Any view you have can usually be made into something more general, and that can stand throughout time.
When I wrote 'The Girl on the Train,' nobody knew who I was, and that's quite a comfortable position to be writing in.
Unlike grown ups, children have little need to deceive themselves.
I'm used to being told what to say, but not what to think... that's usually left up to me.
You want people who are both great fans and supporters and believers of your work and people who are also ruthlessly honest. People who will tell you the truth about it. Over the years I've picked up some friends and I know who to show what to and they'll give me the proper read.
it's more interesting for me to stick things out anonymously. You get more of an honest reaction to what you've done.
A lot of people have ideas and opinions on what Avenged Sevenfold should be or what we should do, and I think our No. 1 rule is to always make sure we never listen to any of that and to always do what we believe.
The reason I love kids so much is because they're so honest, so you know right away if they like you or they don't.
I think test screenings with an audience are useful because they have no dog in the fight, they just say how they feel.
People are going to say what they want to say and think what they want to think, and I can't change their minds.
I am not intellectually choosy. My choice of films reflect who I am, but it is not done with strategy and planning. I hear something and go by my intuition.
