"All of us have the privilege of making music that helps and heals — to make music that makes people happier, stronger…"

"Being called a musical genius was a cross to bear. Genius is a big word. But if you have to live up to something, you…"

"On all of [our Beach Boys records] I said this is a smash! this is a number one smash! And that's how I used to talk …"

"You don't want to be scared all the time. There are other emotions besides fear. You've got anger. You've got jealous…"

"I would have the musicians keep playing over and over again till the sound made sense. I worked overtime on that; I w…"

"It was very competitive in the '60s. And everybody caught the bug, y'know? It was like a “competitive bug.” And, as f…"

"I think because I felt so sad I had to bring out my feelings, and try to create music that would make me and all my f…"

"It's funny how people are pickin' up on our music now, you know? I think it's wonderful that people like our music."

"I met Paul in 1967, Ringo in 1985, and I saw George Harrison in a nightclub somewhere in L. A. I never met John."

"Being single is like liking a Phil Spector record."