Quotes About Authenticity

You can't have bad things happening to characters simply for shock value; you need to provide context.

I'm not a guy who's going to be searching for the biggest contract in the game. That's not me. I want to be where I'm comfortable.

We don't listen to people that contradict themselves.

The business aspect of this sport is a contradiction to what it's really about, and that's knowing something for what it is and not just what it looks like.

I'm a walking contradiction on so many levels. I'm gay, black, and a Christian.

I chose to do art in the way I always do it, which is with all the crazy contradictions of life in there.

I can't stand characters with contradictory information.

Contrary to popular belief, I'm not always trying to stand out.

I prefer wearing no makeup anyway, because I like the contrast when you go out at night and you look different. I actually feel more confident with less makeup than I do with makeup on.

There is a huge contrast between what others think who I am and my real self.

I want to know how I'm doing and contributing. If anyone says they don't... they're lying.

I haven't asked for any contributions, and I try to do things without using money - it feels more real and honest.

I feel that if you made your writing too contrived to meet the market, it wouldn't be any good.

Your look shouldn't be contrived.

I guess I want to be a voice for the kid. I mean, it sounds quite contrived, but I want to make music that I would have wanted to hear when I was 14.

You can't control how other people see you or think of you. But you have to be comfortable with that.

I love being an actor, doing it all. That's not exciting and controversial, but it's true.

I think if I'm controversial it's not because I set out to be. It's because I've never felt comfortable being part of someone else's mainstream community.

It's very tough playing a real life character in a controversial story.

I hate it when characters know things but only reveal them when it's convenient to the story. I'd never do that. That's cheating.

The worst art is when it's really convenient and comfy.

The conventional idea of beauty is so boring.

There's not a lot of conversation going on in my world about softening my image. I'm pretty much who I am.

I always made my songs very conversational, and if anyone ever has a conversation with me, they know I'm a very open guy, very open and honest.