Extended excerpt [Newspaper profile]:

“He probably wrote 600 songs in that period,” says Don Was. There are another 300 still sitting there. They’re still mostly sad meditations on lost love and broken dreams. Does it all go back to his parents’ divorce? “I can’t blame it on them. I don’t know. I’m a country songwriter and we write cry-in-your-beer songs. That’s what we do. Something that you can slow dance to.” 

Source link: “Once Upon a Time in the West” (10 May 1996) The Independent: www.independent.co.uk/life-style/once-upon-a-time-in-the-west-1346600.html

Re-quote note: Several close variations of Nelson’s original quote are in circulation. One of the more popular variations:

Original Nelson text:

I learned some other invaluable lessons in Nashville that apply to both farming and show business.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

Keep skunks of all kinds at a distance.

And I learned:

If you forgive your enemies, it messes up their heads.

Misquote/paraphrase: “I’ve learned some invaluable lessons in Nashville that apply to both farming and showbusiness: Do not corner something you know is meaner than you; keep skunks of all kinds at a distance; if you forgive your enemies, it messes up their heads.”

Extended excerpt [From chapter ‘Crazy | The Wisdom of the Pigs.’ Italicized text as it appear in cited source]:

“I learned some other invaluable lessons in Nashville that apply to both farming and show business.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

Keep skunks of all kinds at a distance.

And I learned:

If you forgive your enemies, it messes up their heads.

I never met a pig or a record executive worth holding a grudge over anyway.” (pp. 38-39)

Source link: Library – The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart (2006) online via Open Library [free subscription service]: https://archive.org/stream/taoofwillieguide00nels#page/38/search/keep+skunks+

Misquote notes:  One common variation, out of many:

“My doctor tells me I should start slowing it down – but there are more old drunks than there are old doctors, so let’s all have another round.”

Extended excerpt [Song lyrics – Final verse]:

“There’s a lot of doctors that tell me

   That I’d better start slowin’ it down

But there’s more old drunks

   Than old doctors

So I guess we’d better have another round.” (p. 91)

Source link: Library – Willie Nelson: Lyrics, 1957-1994 (1995) online via Open Library [free subscription service]: https://archive.org/stream/willienelsonlyri0000nels#page/90/search/get+drunk

Extended excerpt: [Playboy Magazine Interview with David Sheff]

Playboy/David Sheff: Some people criticize rap and hip-hop for violent and misogynistic lyrics.

Willie Nelson: “I don’t like that shit and don’t necessarily want to encourage it. But I understand it’s the way people are speaking. Rather than worry about trying to put an end to Eminem or some other rapper, Lil Black or Dr. Dre or Snopp Dogg, whatever or whoever, politicians should think about why they’re rapping. If they are growing up in a violent ghetto, do people expect them to sing about flowers and – whatever the hell? It’s a lot easier to try to censor some kid swearing about the poverty on the street or whatever it is than it is to stop the poverty. Solving problems is harder.”

Source link [Playboy magazine]: “Playboy Interview: Willie Nelson” (1 November 2002) Playboy Archive: archive.iplayboy.com

Source link [Interview author’s website]: “Willie Nelson” (November 2002) DavidSheff.com: https://www.davidsheff.com/willie-nelson