The reason you write [songs] is because there's something you want to say that is important to you - enough to go through all the torture of writing.

- Emmylou Harris

A good song deals with the human condition, and the truth of the human condition.

- Emmylou Harris

When you're just singing a beautiful melody with a story that's true to the heart, you don't need a lot of embellishment.

- Emmylou Harris

Patriotism can be good or bad. Knee-jerk patriotism can be very bad. I'm patriotic almost to the point of self-consciousness, but I love my country t…

- Emmylou Harris

It takes a certain amount of courage to let the field lie fallow until you have something to say.

- Emmylou Harris

There's a certain grace in accepting what your life is and embracing all the good things that have been - but there's still an expectation of good th…

- Emmylou Harris

Mediocrity is gonna kill the world before Armageddon ever does.

- Emmylou Harris

You have to grow up, start paying the rent and have your heart broken before you understand country.

- Emmylou Harris

I'm just too busy living every day to really spend a lot of time thinking 'am I old?' I'm this age. I am in this moment and in this life.

- Emmylou Harris