Most religious stories and mythologies have some sort of similar root, some sort of global archetypes. — Maynard James Keenan

At some point, if you’re lucky, you realize you’re not the story. You’re part of the story. The story is much bigger than you. — Maynard James Keenan

A lot of names in America and Europe have their roots in Latin and Greek words. A lot of them go back to archetypes and their stories. — Maynard James Keenan

If you take different mythologies from different cultures, the names may change and the story lines may vary but there is always something in common. — Maynard James Keenan

I can’t be a legend yet. I’m not dead. — Maynard James Keenan

I think people in general have neglected to learn about history. — Maynard James Keenan

I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. — Maynard James Keenan

I would hope they would be our fellow artists, rather than trying to emulate or idolize clowns like us. — Maynard James Keenan

Because artists can be extremely eccentric and insane, and unfortunately, the people they hurt the most are the people that are closest to them. — Maynard James Keenan

There were a lot of choices to make and I always picked artist. I never once picked doctor, lawyer, firemen or something like that. It was always artist. — Maynard James Keenan

I’m not an educated man. I only know what I’m told, and I’m not told that much; I have no frame of reference for how to place things in history be a responsible leader. All I can do is be an artist. — Maynard James Keenan

I think everything Joni Mitchell did for music was big. — Maynard James Keenan

I just hope that our fans are people who are inspired by music, and just use our music as a background or inspiration for whatever it is they do. — Maynard James Keenan

Music is about listening, the more you play, the more the magic spreads. — Maynard James Keenan

After all, in today’s music scene every band seems to steal from other bands. — Maynard James Keenan

Everything we release with Tool is inspired by our music. — Maynard James Keenan

I believe that music is a force in itself. It is there and it needs an outlet, a medium. In a way, we are just the medium. — Maynard James Keenan

Reading is more of a left–brain process, and listening to music is a right–brain function. — Maynard James Keenan

Adam does most of the work when it comes to videos and he basically does the same as I do with the lyrics. The videos are his visual interpretations of our music. — Maynard James Keenan

We’re five people, five individuals who came together to create something, to make music and to complete each other musically, to form a perfect circle. — Maynard James Keenan

Music, if it really resonates, will beat somewhere right near your heartbeat. That music will make sense to you…because it’s in rhythm with your soul. — Maynard James Keenan

You really should be able to feel the higher power of music and be moved by it, rather than listening to me waffle on and having to explain it. — Maynard James Keenan

We’re just four guys and we are enjoying what we’re doing with Tool. — Maynard James Keenan

Everything revolves around the music when it comes to Tool. — Maynard James Keenan

A lot of people into Tool, for some reason, are not interested in humor. — Maynard James Keenan

You’re such an inspiration for the ways that I’ll never ever choose to be… — Maynard Keenan

Life is too short not to create something with every breath we draw. — Maynard James Keenan

For me, life is writing and I can do it anywhere. It doesn’t matter where I am. I listen. I write. I live. — Maynard James Keenan

Jesus Christ, why dont you come save my life. Open my eyes and blind me with your light and your lies. — Maynard James Keenan

I think the media made Manson, turned him into some larger than life figure and surrounded him with mystery and some shady glamour. — Maynard James Keenan

I’m a pessimist. But I’m a pessimist with a sense of responsibility. — Maynard James Keenan

I’ve always had an affinity for growing things. — Maynard James Keenan

Yeah, because I think it’s more important just to inspire people to wake up one day and pick up a book and start feeling it out for themselves. — Maynard James Keenan

Beliefs are dangerous. Beliefs allow the mind to stop functioning. A non–functioning mind is clinically dead. Believe in nothing. — Maynard James Keenan

I feel like there’s no real innovation in having some music. It’s more just unique personalities and unique expressions, and you being able to tell your story. — Maynard James Keenan

We are eternal. All this pain is an illusion. — Maynard James Keenan

But then it hasn’t really been a focus of our government to make us an educated people. — Maynard James Keenan

This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality. Embrace this moment, remember: we are eternal all this pain is an illusion. — Maynard James Keenan

Actually I never did stand up. I’m not that funny. — Maynard James Keenan

Something kinda sad about the way that things have come to be. Desensitized to everything. What became of subtlety? How can this mean anything to me..If I really don’t feel anything at all? — Maynard James Keenan

Every now and then, you get people who tend to forget what this country is about, which is a melting pot of races and cultures and freedom of speech. — Maynard James Keenan

Do unto others what has been done to you. — Maynard James Keenan

Desert, in generally, is a very good place to find yourself. Or lose yourself. — Maynard James Keenan

If God is our father you thought, than Satan must be our cousin. — Maynard James Keenan

And if you don’t live, you have nothing to write about. — Maynard James Keenan

I listened for the whisper, of your sweet insanity. — Maynard James Keenan

Once you take yourself too seriously the art will suffer. — Maynard James Keenan

Finding beauty in the dissonance. — Maynard James Keenan

People have to follow their hearts, and if their hearts lead them to WalMart, so be it. — Maynard James Keenan

I feel like with music there’s so much ego rooted in expressing your thoughts and your experiences with it. — Maynard James Keenan