I wish it, I command it. Let my will take the place of a reason.

People without firmness of character love to make up a fate for themselves; that relieves them of the necessity of having their own will and of taking responsibility for themselves.

The joy of the mind is the measure of its strength.

Genius is rarely able to give any account of its own processes.

You can't be taught to be brainy. You've either got it or you don't.

I was super brainy and a proper geek at school, but there would always be a boy. But that sort of obsession did turn me into a songwriter. My writing has always come from that feeling of infatuation.

Starting probably with Janeane Garofalo and that era of stand-up ladies who were starting to be more brainy and strong and clever, guys started noticing those girls as sexy smart. I always called it smarxy.

Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow.

Talent is a faculty that is highly developed, but genius commands all the faculties.