Elvis changed the country music scene quite a bit; he almost put country music out of business.

- Chet Atkins

Approach your guitar intelligently, and if there are limits, don't deny them. Work within your restrictions. Somethings you can do better than others…

- Chet Atkins

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.

- Chet Atkins

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

- Chet Atkins

The last song I recorded with [Hank Williams, Sr.] was "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive." I remember thinking, "Hoss, you're not just jivin',"…

- Chet Atkins

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

- Chet Atkins

It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to I haven't found any shortcuts, and…

- Chet Atkins

Copying one person is stealing. Copying ten is research.

- Chet Atkins

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

- Chet Atkins