20 Essential Lessons Eric Clapton's Learned Over the Years

My definition of peace is having no noise in my head.

And I don't like having my picture taken. I'm almost like an old African in that sense. I think it steals a bit of the soul.

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

African Soul

I have regrets, obviously. Countless. One of the great regrets was getting involved with George Harrison's marriage. What is that fabulous song that Dylan plays? ‘Don't go mistaking paradise for that home across the road.’ I don't know what inspired that song, but my experience is exactly what it's…

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

Regrets George Harrison Bob Dylan

Up until the point when I went into treatment, I'd never asked for help from anybody. I would rather not have known the answer than have to ask you for help. That's why treatment was fascinating for me. They deliberately put in your path as many things as they could that required you to ask someone…

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

rehab Addiction Treatment Dependence Asking For Help

Addiction doesn't negotiate.

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

Addiction Negotiation

From the beginning, I knew intuitively that if nothing else, music was safe, and that nobody could tell me anything about it. Music didn't need a middleman, whereas all the other things in school needed some kind of explanation.

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

Music Intuition Middleman

Up until I became a father, it was all about self-obsession. But then I learned exactly what it's all about: the delight of being a servant. Olivier wrote that the greatest thing you could aspire to in life was to be a good servant.

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

Fatherhood Self-Obsession Service Olivier

One of the most beneficial things I've ever learned is how to keep my mouth shut.

— Eric Clapton, esquire.com

Silence Beneficial Shut Your Mouth

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