Chet Atkins

Years from now, after I'm gone, someone will listen to what I've done and know I was here. They may not know or care who I was, but they'll hear my guitars speaking for me.

You shape your own destiny.

Copying one person is stealing. Copying ten is research.

Everything I've ever done was out of fear of being mediocre.

I'll always be poor in my mind.

Do it again on the next verse, and people think you meant it.

If you hear something you like, and you're halfway like the public, chances are they'll like it too.

Once you become predictable, no one's interested anymore.

A long apprenticeship is the most logical way to success. The only alternative is overnight stardom, but I can't give you a formula for that.