Juan Gabriel

“Mexico is known throughout the world thanks to mariachi.”

“Someone who's passed through the circumstances that I have has to make the decision either to be a good person or a bad person, and I decide to become better at every opportunity.”

“My thoughts, my feelings, my spirit, they are all in Spanish.”

“The artist knows how to sing, not how to count.”

“Everyone who gave me food, who took away my hunger, inspired me to compose. They told me their stories, and I had no other way to console them than with a piece of music, and that is how I learned. I did not resolve their problems with my songs, but I created a moment of release.”

“When I have the opportunity to work, I organize a whole party - like what you perhaps saw at the Grammys.”

“There are no rules when I compose songs.”

“American music has infiltrated the entire world enough as it is. Mexican music must be defended with vigilance.”

“Let others worry about their own lives, and let the rest of us live.”

“They say fame is important and that maintaining your fame is even more important. But to me, the most important thing is to deserve the respect of your fans.”

“I'm a person who, when I set out to write, I write. It's just like when you set out to eat, you eat, or when you set out to sleep, you sleep. I don't do somersaults to write something. I just do it.”

“Money can be taken away from you, by the IRS or by pistol. That's why I always measure riches in terms of wisdom. No one can ever take from you what you know.”

“Art is feminine.”

“To transcend and be yourself... I have no reason to tell you, and others, something that is not of interest to you.”

“Mexico is a very mom-centered culture. You'll find stores open on Father's Day, but never on Mother's Day. For us, mothers are very important.”

“I think I am an artist. I think I am Juan Gabriel, who has given so much with my songs.”

“I've learned during my life that if I am in hell, I make my own glory. I've also been in glory, and perhaps I've made my own hell, but I certainly don't take anyone down with me.”

“When I was very young, I sold the rights to my work... through 2000.”

“As Juan Gabriel, music is my religion, and mariachi is my devotion. And my songs are my prayers.”

“Lovers come back. Styles come back. But time? It never comes back.”