The good ole days weren`t always good, and tomorrow ain`t as bad as it seems.

They say there`s a heaven for those who will wait. Some say it`s better, but I say it ain`t. I`d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. Sinners are much more fun...

Don`t go changing, to try and please me

If it seems like I`ve been lost in `lets remember`, If it seems I`m gettin` older and missin` my younger days, well you shoulda known me much better, cause the past is something that never got in my way.

Don`t wait for answers... Just take your chances!

It`s okay if you mess up. You should give yourself a break.

I`d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, sinners are much more fun.

I`m just this shlubby guy who plays the piano.

I know: rich bastard. I used to feel awkward about it, but I shrugged it off. It`s all luck and sweat. But I earned it - though I can`t justify the amounts.

On a three-week commitment after attempting suicide at age 21: I`d go up to the nurse`s window and say, `Hey, I`m O.K., but these other people are really crazy.` They`d just hand me my Thorazine.

It`s weird you know, the values. Jonas Salk invented the polio vaccine yet I`m worth more money than he is.

[about recording `We Are the World`] I remember most of us who were there didn`t like the song, but nobody would say so. I think `Cyndi Lauper` leaned over to me and said, `It sounds like a Pepsi commercial.` And I didn`t disagree.

I love telling stories, and I love hearing a good story being told. Songwriting is fascinating in that it incorporates two things that I love to do: create a story and write the music to it. Then I get to sing it and play the piano on top of that. My job allows me to do four things that I absolutely love. It doesn`t get much better than that.

There`s nothing better than good sex. But bad sex? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich is better than bad sex.

I`d rather laugh with the sinners, than cry with the saints.

I have a theory as to why I`ve been around so long. I don`t think I`m all that good, I think I`m competent, I know how to do what I`m supposed to do. I know how to play the piano, I know how to sing in key, I know how to write music & lyrics, I know how to record and I know how to perform. I`m competent. I know how to do my job.

I look in the mirror and I go: you`re a rock star? It`s funny I don`t look like a rock star, I don`t walk around thinking like a rock star. I`m just this shmegdorf walking around and somebody confronts me and goes BILLY JOEL! and I`m like: Right, I`m that guy.