I have six kids, and I can`t under-estimate the stake in the future they have given me. They certainly fulfil my life more than anything. I could do without many things in my life, but certainly not the love of my family. No way.

When I was 25 I knew everything. I was completely sure about everything. Now I know far more - and yet I`m much less sure. For me, it`s wonderful to live in that paradox.

I`ve been Sting longer than I was Gordon Sumner. When I`m in New York, even the doorman calls me Mr. Sting. I`m comfortable with Sting. Gordon Sumner didn`t suit me, never did. I was given the name Sting by people who knew me, and that name suited me.

I adore Bob Geldof. He`s a most eloquent, passionate and honest man and I would follow him anywhere.

The first book I read from cover to cover, when I was seven years old - I remember this - I was very proud of the fact that I`d read "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson. My comprehension of it I`m sure was limited. I read every word on every page. I was very proud of that.

I like to look at my old clothes and say hey, remember that, I wore it in 1969. I saved a lot of my suits hoping my sons could inherit them because they`re well-made clothes - but my sons are giants and my clothes don`t fit them. It`s kind of sad.

I think reincarnation is a nice idea. I can`t sit here and defend it rationally, because there really is no rational defence of it. It is a poetic idea. I don`t think it would do you any harm to live as though it is true.

Sting as a name is no sillier than Beethoven or Mozart. What`s in a name? It`s my name now. If I ever back off from it, I`ll have a real good reason. But right now I don`t feel like it. It`s a spanner in the works. Can this man really be taken seriously with such a ridiculous name?

A muse is traditionally a female figure. It inspires you to works of art. And I suppose it has to be my lovely wife Trudie. Who`s not only my muse but she`s my guardian angel. She`s very very inspirational, as a person, as my wife, as the mother of my children and uh...yeah, she`s my muse.

Do I really know about the business? I know enough to trust my own instincts and not really worry about what is contemporary or what`s happening or whatever. I just do what I do. I do what I enjoy doing. I don`t really compromise very much, and I`m very fortunate to still have a career despite that.

I`m very close to dogs, and what I understand about dogs is that they`re fiercely loyal and fiercely jealous. They`re the same as me.

I`m bored with music between 1955 and 1980. I`m completely bored. I can`t listen to a rock and roll record. I can`t do it. I would rather listen to hogs screwing.

I loved the band Traffic for their way of creating a musical universe without these boundaries, because whether it`s country, pop, gospel, heavy metal or classical music, it`s all a single language, a code.

[on his being made a CBE] Being a Commander of the British Empire isn`t really what it`s cracked up to be, since I can`t command anybody. Everyone always ignores me.

You can`t get better than Otis Redding.

One of my favorite songs that I never wrote was "Tempted" and I did actually cover it. It`s a great song, and Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook are great songwriters. Squeeze were always a great band, and it was nice to cover it.

I am very proud of the legacy of The Police. We are a damn good band and it still holds up. (On the induction of The Police into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)

A lot of people approach risk as if it`s the enemy when it`s really fortune`s accomplice.

I don`t belong to a church or political party or a group of any kind. I feel that Amnesty International is the most civilized organization in history. Its currency is the written word. Its weapon is the letter; that`s why I am a member. I believe in its non-violence; I believe in its effectiveness. Its dignity and its sense of commitment. Its focus on individuals and the concentration and tenacity with which they defend those imprisoned for their ideas has earned it the cautious respect of repressive governments throughout the world.

My job is being a musician [...] I just make films for fun, really.

The geniuses of music, like Bach (Johann Sebastian Bach) and Miles Davis, used silence beautifully; they were not about using as many notes as possible. They knew that playing almost nothing can be the most elegant and eloquent thing to do.

I`m so glad I have this way of expressing, in a veiled and artistic way, my most intimate feelings. A lot of people have the same feelings, but in others it must get bottled up. I`m proud of my being able to make it into artifacts that some people find beautiful or engaging.

I first met Youssou (Youssou N`Dour) with Peter (Peter Gabriel) several years ago when we worked together on an Amnesty tour. Both of them have such extraordinary voices and Peter has done a lot to promote world music in general and that should be acknowledged as it`s been a one man crusade on his part.

It was quite something. My wife saw it, too. At first I thought it was her with one of the kids until I reached over and I realised that she was still in bed with me - on seeing the ghosts of a woman and a child in his bedroom

The great thing about Bruce is that he`s exactly as he seems. A great man. (On Bruce Springsteen)

If anyone described me as a genius I would laugh. I have my moments - I just have to join them together.

He`s a great artist and he really inspired me. (On Bob Dylan)

For me they are pop songs. Beautiful melodies, fantastic lyrics, great accompaniments. I feel that my job as a pop artist is to develop as a musician, and to bring into my sphere elements that aren`t necessarily pop, more complex intervals, complex time signatures. (On performing the music of John Dowland on his album "Songs From The Labyrinth")

You can scratch the surface of my songs pretty lightly and you`ll find someone who wanted to be James Taylor at the age of 14. He`s also a brilliant and ridiculously underrated guitar player and blessed with a voice that could melt ice caps.