232 Quotes by Pete Townshend

Do you realize why is it I’m so driven to operate within the Establishment? It’s vengeance. ‘Hope I die before I get old’ is something I still have to live with, but not for the reason many people think. I have to be very, very vigilant not to become one of those people I despised.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed meeting fans face to face. They’re less scary when they aren’t going nuts at a Who show. But then, so am I.

People say, “You’ve gotta go on, man, otherwise all those kids, they’ll be finished, they’ll have nothing to live for.” That’s rock and roll!

There’s a man upon that ledge, he’s only cleaning windows. What a shame for the pain we’re missing. Gonna lean back on my wall and pray for him to fall.

He is the king. If it hadn't been for Link Wray and 'Rumble', I would have never picked up a guitar.

We tried not to age, but time had its rage.

What I took back, because of my exposure to the Jewish music of the 30s and the 40s in my upbringing with my father, was that kind of theatrical songwriting. It was always a part of my character. This desire to make people laugh.