Neil Peart Quotes

They say there are strangers who threaten us
In our immigrants and infidels
They say there is strangeness too dangerous
In our theaters and bookstore shelves
That those who know what's best for us
Must rise and save us from ourselves -- Witch Hunt (Part III of 'Fear') (1980)

Like a steely blade in a silken sheath
We don't see what they're made of
They shout about love, but when push comes to shove
They live for the things they're afraid of And the knowledge that they fear is a weapon to be used against them...
- The Weapon (Part II of 'Fear') (1982)

Life is just a candle, and a dream must give it flame... -- The Fountain of Lamneth (1975)

Today is different, and tomorrow the same.
It's hard to take the world the way that it came.
Too many rapids keep us sweeping along.
Too many captains keep on steering us wrong.
It's hard to take the heat.
It's hard to lay blame.
To fight the fire, while we're feeding the flames. -- Second Nature (1987)

Now there's no more oak oppression
For they passed a noble law
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe and saw -- The Trees (1978)

Wave after wave
Will flow with the tide
And bury the world as it does
Tide after tide
Will flow and recede
Leaving life to go on
As it was... -- Natural Science (1980)

...if the music stops and there's only the sound of the rain
All the hope and glory -- All the sacrifice in vain
(And) If love remains, though everything is lost
We will pay the price, but we will not count the cost -- Bravado (1991)

Quick to judge -- Quick to anger -- Slow to understand
Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand -- Witch Hunt (Part III of 'Fear') (1981)

We each pay a fabulous price
For our visions of paradise
But a spirit with a vision is a dream
With a mission -- Mission (1987)

The first time reggae music really got into my soul — I'll never forget, it was the Bob Marley song 'Natural Mystic,' just sitting in a car hearing it — and I suddenly got it. I got what reggae was all about.

When people come up and say, 'you influenced me to play drums,' I say, 'apologize to your parents for me.'

I can't play to that! - on Rock Band

Anarchist reactionary, running-dog revisionist
Hindu, Muslim, Catholic creation, evolutionist
Rational, romantic, mystic, cynical, idealist
Minimal expressionist, post-modern neo-symbolist Armchair rocket scientist, graffiti existentialist
Deconstruction primitive performance photo-realist
Be-bop or a one-drop or a hip-hop, lite-pop-metallist
Gold adult contemporary, urban country capitalist -- You Bet Your Life (1991)

How can anybody be enlightened?
Truth is after all so poorly lit -- Turn The Page (1987)

An ounce of perception, a pound of obscure
Process information at half speed
Pause, rewind, replay
Warm memory chip
Random sample, hold the one you need -- Vital Signs (1981)