I just did an interview where I was asked whether I drink beer or whisky and I was sad to reveal that I'm pounding spring water.

The sad thing about any business I suppose but in mine you see it particularly is that you're always asked to do what you've already done.

The question I love to get asked is: 'What's the hardest part of your job?' And literally the answer is probably real sad but it's to just to be me. Like it's really hard because I think people you know have a set idea of what a pop star should be.

I don't live with people that's why my relationships last. I'm not romantic. Even when I was a teenager if somebody asked if they could hold my hand I'd say - no it's not heavy I can hold it myself thank you'.

I am for a clear distinction between public and private life. I believe private matters should be regulated in private and I have asked those close to me to respect this.

When asked if I consider myself Buddhist the answer is Not really. But it's more my religion than any other because I was brought up with it in an intellectual and spiritual environment. I don't practice or preach it however.

If I were asked for a one-sentence sound bite on religion I would say I was against it.

The people at the record company had asked me if I could write a song about my life my relationship with God and where I'm from. Well I can't write a song on purpose my songs come in a moment of inspiration or desperation.

I was associated with a woman who I was involved with and had a relationship with. She asked for money. I felt as though I was being blackmailed or there was some sort of extortion.

No one ever asked what was my relationship with Bart Giamatti. We used to talk about baseball a lot as a player and a commissioner just talk about the game what could we do to help the game where's the game going he was pretty good.

A year or so ago I went through all the people in my life and asked myself: does this person inspire me genuinely love me and support me unconditionally? I wanted nothing but positive influences in my life.

I get asked a lot about getting into politics. I say 'Take a look at politics. You tell me what seems appealing about that.'

Going into politics is something people have asked me about forever.

How does one happen to write a poem: where does it come from? That is the question asked by the psychologists or the geneticists of poetry.

When I was asked to be Writer in Residence at Edinburgh I thought you can't teach poetry. This is ridiculous.

As they say one thing led to another and ultimately the British and Irish governments asked me to serve as chairman of the peace negotiations which ironically began six years ago this week.

I have many times asked myself whether there can be more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war.