In my life, being true to myself certainly hasn't made things easier. You could never accuse me of taking the path of least resistance.

There was a castle called Doubting Castle, the owner whereof was Giant Despair.

A lot of these guys come up and say, 'Man, you were my influence, the way you thrashed the drums.' They don't seem to understand I was thrashing in order to hear what I was playing. It was anger, not enjoyment - and painful.

When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.

When we long for life without difficulty, remind us that oaks grow strong under contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure.

When we long for a live without difficulties, remind us that diamonds are made under pressure and oaks grow strong in contrary winds.

Mature spiritual leadership is forged in the crucible of difficult conversations, the pressure of conflicted relationships, the pain of setbacks, and dark nights of the soul.

I went through a lot of battles in high school.

Gut-wrenching questions honor God. Despair directed at God is a way of encountering him, opening ourselves up to the One and only Someone who can actually do something about our plight. And whether we, like Greg, collide with the Almighty or simply bump up against him, we cannot be the same. We never are when we experience God.

It is not society that is to guide and save the creative hero, but precisely the reverse. And so every one of us shares the supreme ordeal --carries the cross of the redeemer--not in the bright moments of his tribe's great victories, but in the silences of his personal despair.

I definitely had to pave my own path, which wasn't always the easiest thing to do.

Try not to pay attention to those who will try to make life miserable for you. There will be a lot of those - in the official capacity as well as the self-appointed.