Carly Simon

As a child I used to read Gone with the Wind over and over again. I wanted to be Scarlett O’Hara. I never wanted to believe that it was possible that there could be infidelity. I never wanted to be believe that it was even possible for a man to look another way, even for a moment. My bubble of monogamy was pierced in a harsh way.

One of the things about creativity is you can be in denial about these things. When I found out I had cancer, there were four hours in which I was pounding my head on the marble kitchen top saying, “I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it.” But then I felt as if this little army in uniform was flooding me. They had come to help me fight it. I felt really strong about it after that. It was one of the strongest periods of my life.

When I was a little girl, I so wanted to be sociable, but I was scared that I wasn’t going to be able to speak a sentence because I had such a bad stammer.

You usually can’t tell what’s inspiring until you look back on it.

There was a lot of charm in just living in a big family compound of a house. My two uncles, who were into jazz, lived in the basement, and one of them, Uncle Peter, taught me my first songs on the ukulele.

Actually, I think the more Ben [Taylor] sings, the less like James he sounds.

I believe in 100% Theory and 100% Practice. Theory without practical application is futile.

If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this way.

Success means different things in different parts of my life, but overall if I have to define ultimately what success means – the bottom line – then for me it’s if the family is healthy and happy.

These are our neighbours, our co-workers, friends’ children… the problem is closer than you think, but so is the solution.

One of the greatest discoveries a person makes, one of their great surprises, is to find they can do what they were afraid they couldn’t do.

All heiresses are beautiful.

We teach people how to treat us.

It’s a rare person who wants to hear what he doesn’t want to hear.

You are only as happy as your saddest child.

Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.

The quickest way from A to B is not always at the most feverish pace.

Faith, n.: Belief without evidence in what is told by one who speaks without knowledge, of things without parallel.

Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.

Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.

You get what you ask for in this life. If you ask for nothing, you get nothing.