76 Quotes by Glen Hansard

I think it's very interesting, people who can't stand people who whinge and whine. It seems almost like a class issue. Because you think about who is the most positive, who's the most redemptive songwriter that's ever existed in your lifetime?

Our imagination it is our greatest ally . . . Imagination is a very, very powerful thing. It literally invents the path before you.

Certain songs have a life, and certain songs don't. A song is like a saddle: you ride it for a while, and if it's the right kind of song you can sing it for the rest of your life. And then other songs are only really important for certain periods of your life, and you move on from them and find yourself not necessarily needing to sing them anymore.

There's this unspoken thing that you have to wear a tux and some kind of nice dress. There are all these ethical rules, but I'm sure if you came to the Oscars in ripped jeans and a t-shirt they wouldn't throw you out. You would just look like a fool.

My dad was quiet, angry, shut down. So my thing is: I express everything that's there. I want to get it all out.

I've realized, you know, having turned 40, that rest is just as important as work. In fact, it's equally as important.

I just didn't realize, being a young person, that if you sign up to make a film, a certain portion of your soul is forever gone. From there on, you are that character to everybody you'll ever meet again.

Sometimes travelling really intensely for a long time is like having a continuous nervous breakdown.

Well, everything about singing, I learned from busking. Everything I learned about songwriting, I learned from busking.