Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

85 Best Neil Peart Quotes

Famous As: Best Known as the Drummer and Primary Lyricist of the Rock Band 'Rush'
Born On: September 12, 1952
Died On: January 7, 2020
Born In: Hamilton, Canada
Died At Age: 67

Neil Ellwood Peart was a Canadian-American author and musician, famous as the drummer and lyricist for the progressive rock band Rush. At the age of 31, he was the youngest to be inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame. In his early career, Neil’s performances primarily focused on hard rock style. In later years, Peart became one of the innovators of the genre by incorporating jazz and swing components in his playing style. Peart was renowned for his technical proficiency and stamina apart from including universal and diverse subjects of science fiction, fantasy and philosophy as a lyricist.  Besides his luminous career as a musician, Peart was also famous for being an author of seven non-fiction novels which were loosely based on his travelling and adventure escapades. He also got recognition as an author of ‘The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa’, ‘Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road’ and ‘Far and Away: A Prize Every Time’. We have compiled his quotes and thoughts from his lyrics, songs, books, writings, and interviews. Let us take you through these inspirational quotes from this legend of rock music.

Listed In:
If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.

If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.

Neil Peart
You can surrender without a prayer, but never really pray without surrender. You can fight without ever winning, but never ever win without a fight.

You can surrender without a prayer, but never really pray without surrender. You can fight without ever winning, but never ever win without a fight.

Neil Peart
Could hell be a place where there is no self-respect? A place where people have no pride in their own existence or behavior, and thus would have none for anyone or anything else?

Could hell be a place where there is no self-respect? A place where people have no pride in their own existence or behavior, and thus would have none for anyone or anything else?

Neil Peart
A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission.

A spirit with a vision is a dream with a mission.

Neil Peart
No changes are permanent, but change is.

No changes are permanent, but change is.

Neil Peart
Courageous convictions will drag the dream into existence.

Courageous convictions will drag the dream into existence.

Neil Peart
Adventures suck when you're having them.

Adventures suck when you're having them.

Neil Peart
Each of us
A cell of awareness
Imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet

Each of us A cell of awareness Imperfect and incomplete Genetic blends With uncertain ends On a fortune hunt that's far too fleet

Neil Peart
Geddy once joked, 'You're the only guy I know who rehearses to rehearse!

Geddy once joked, 'You're the only guy I know who rehearses to rehearse!

Neil Peart
Half the world hates
What half the world does every day
Half the world waits
While half gets on with it anyway

Half the world hates What half the world does every day Half the world waits While half gets on with it anyway

Neil Peart
You can't get wise with sleep still in your eyes no matter what your dream might be.

You can't get wise with sleep still in your eyes no matter what your dream might be.

Neil Peart
From the point of ignition. 
To the final drive. 
The point of the journey is not to arrive.

From the point of ignition. To the final drive. The point of the journey is not to arrive.

Neil Peart
We're only immortal for a limited time.

We're only immortal for a limited time.

Neil Peart
Half the world cries
Half the world laughs
Half the world tries
To be the other half

Half the world cries Half the world laughs Half the world tries To be the other half

Neil Peart
From first to last, the peak is never passed. Something always fires the light that gets in your eyes.

From first to last, the peak is never passed. Something always fires the light that gets in your eyes.

Neil Peart
Racetracks are designed to make it as difficult as possible to get around that corner fast. And some ramps, by necessity, are that way, too.

Racetracks are designed to make it as difficult as possible to get around that corner fast. And some ramps, by necessity, are that way, too.

Neil Peart
Don't try to change Doofus, let Doofus change you.

Don't try to change Doofus, let Doofus change you.

Neil Peart
Playing a three-hour Rush show is like running a marathon while solving equations.

Playing a three-hour Rush show is like running a marathon while solving equations.

Neil Peart
A quality of justice
A quantity of light
A particle of mercy
Makes the color of right

A quality of justice A quantity of light A particle of mercy Makes the color of right

Neil Peart
The government's only functions are to protect the rights of the individual; therefore, you need a police force and an army.

The government's only functions are to protect the rights of the individual; therefore, you need a police force and an army.

Neil Peart
Even as a kid, I never wanted to be famous; I wanted to be good.

Even as a kid, I never wanted to be famous; I wanted to be good.

Neil Peart
Each of us, A CEll Of Awareness... imperfect, and incomplete.
Genetic blends, with uncertain ends.

Each of us, A CEll Of Awareness... imperfect, and incomplete. Genetic blends, with uncertain ends.

Neil Peart
The reality is that my style of drumming is largely an athletic undertaking, and it does not pain me to realize that, like all athletes, there comes a time to... take yourself out of the game.

The reality is that my style of drumming is largely an athletic undertaking, and it does not pain me to realize that, like all athletes, there comes a time to... take yourself out of the game.

Neil Peart
Now I call myself a bleeding heart libertarian. Because I do believe in the principles of Libertarianism as an ideal - because I'm an idealist.

Now I call myself a bleeding heart libertarian. Because I do believe in the principles of Libertarianism as an ideal - because I'm an idealist.

Neil Peart
You can twist perception
reality won

You can twist perception reality won"t budge you can raise objection I won2t be judge and jury

Neil Peart
Your soul is stained with the blood of the innocent, feel their pain

Your soul is stained with the blood of the innocent, feel their pain

Neil Peart

The thing for me about Ayn Rand is that her philosophy is the only one applicable to the world today - in every sense. If you take her ideas, then take them farther in your own mind, you can find answers to pretty well everything on an individual basis.

Neil Peart
Live shows were always religion for us. We never played a show - whether it was in front of 15 people or 15,000 - where it wasn't everything we had that night.

Live shows were always religion for us. We never played a show - whether it was in front of 15 people or 15,000 - where it wasn't everything we had that night.

Neil Peart
For a person of my sensibility, you're only left with the Democratic party.

For a person of my sensibility, you're only left with the Democratic party.

Neil Peart
I'd be very honored to be the ambassador to drum solos.

I'd be very honored to be the ambassador to drum solos.

Neil Peart