Top 60 James Hetfield Quotes (2025 Update)

1. “Live to win, dare to fail.”

— James Hetfield

2. “I choose to live, not just exist.”

— James Hetfield

Featured in: Intention Quotes, Fulfillment Quotes, Not Giving Up Quotes, Monday Motivation Quotes, Life Is Short Quotes

3. “Life is for me to live my own way.”

— James Hetfield

Featured in: Focus On Yourself Quotes, Be Yourself Quotes

4. “My lifestyle determines my deathstyle.”

— James Hetfield

5. “Music is the soundtrack to my life.”

— James Hetfield

6. “I’d rather regret doing something than not doing something.”

— James Hetfield

7. “One time we saw some hookers but when we got closer we realized it was Motley Crue.”

— James Hetfield

8. “Every breath I take becomes deeper, and I become more confident of myself without my crutches. The lies I’ve filled my body and soul with aren’t needed anymore. They’re not welcome. I choose to live, not just exist.”

— James Hetfield

9. “Don’t look back, because that’s the sign of failure.”

— James Hetfield

10. “People always complain about something. If you face yourself and stand up strong, you’re OK. You can’t go wrong.”

— James Hetfield

Featured in: Strong Quotes

11. “If I hadn’t of had music in my life, it’s quite possible I’d be dead and I’d much rather be alive.”

— James Hetfield

12. “Music was the voice I didn’t have.”

— James Hetfield

13. “It’s all fun and games ’till someone loses an eye, then it’s just fun you can’t see.”

— James Hetfield

Featured in: Fun Quotes

14. “No one but me can save myself though its too late, death greets me warm, now i will just say goodbye.”

— James Hetfield

15. “Rap is just to me very annoying.”

— James Hetfield

16. “I’m married to Metallica.”

— James Hetfield

17. “Just like the poles of a magnet, some people are drawn to death and others are repulsed by it, but we all have to deal with it.”

— James Hetfield

18. “It’s a good feeling, that you can put your heart out there, no matter how black it is, and people can understand it.”

— James Hetfield

19. “Everybody is born good and everybody has got the same size soul. We’re here to connect with that.”

— James Hetfield

20. “Sleep my friend, and you will see that dream is my reality.”

— James Hetfield

21. “There is one Metallica. We have many styles, it’s called Metallica.”

— James Hetfield

22. “When people start copying your style, you know that something must be happening.”

— James Hetfield

23. “Dying, dying, someone told me just recently, dying is easy. Living is hard. for everyone.”

— James Hetfield

24. “My vocals are bad, I can’t sing, hey man, I wouldn’t ask you to do a drum roll if your arm was falling off.”

— James Hetfield

25. “Metallica is the world to me – it always has been, and that’s not going to change. I’m married to Metallica.”

— James Hetfield

26. “I have the best job in the world. I’m able to express myself, and people attach themselves to it if they identify with it. Music certainly is a driving force in my life. There’s not a moment where I’m not in it.”

— James Hetfield

27. “My whole life was duality: Here’s my life at home, here’s my life on the road.”

— James Hetfield

28. “Metallica is a wonderful key to have on my key ring. I can go anywhere – it’s great.”

— James Hetfield

29. “I was pretty quiet as a child.”

— James Hetfield

30. “The fans like the idea we do what we want. It’s not an act. Screw the record company and the beaten path. Without MTV or radio, we still have a huge underground following.”

— James Hetfield

31. “Any time somebody is into your band that’s a good thing. And if they’re in a really cool, really popular band, that’s a better thing.”

— James Hetfield

32. “I’m always feeling like I don’t belong, no matter where I am. So I’m just searching for a family nonstop, and sometimes I find it in the mosh pit, sometimes I find it when I’m doing some French TV show with the president’s wife.”

— James Hetfield

33. “I’d like to have a beer-holder on my guitar like they have on boats.”

— James Hetfield

34. “Send me money, send me green, and Heaven you will meet. Make your contribution and you’ll get a better seat.”

— James Hetfield

35. “I wanted to make noise, not study theory.”

— James Hetfield

36. “Nothing’s really a prized possession except my family, you know?”

— James Hetfield

37. “No secret that I enjoy motor sports and cars in particular, building cars, building custom cars. Part of that scene. I love the flow of the cars and I love the art part of them. I love the sleekness and the uniqueness of each car that you can dream up.”

— James Hetfield

38. “I’d much rather talk about guitar playing. I hate it when people ask me about my lyrics. I always feel like telling them to just go and read them.”

— James Hetfield

39. “There is something powerful in Metallica, a will, a drive.”

— James Hetfield

40. “If you’re into what you’re playing, that’s the most important thing.”

— James Hetfield

41. “Rehab is like college for your head.”

— James Hetfield

42. “I associate times with certain music. It still is that for me. It’s telling the story of our lives.”

— James Hetfield

43. “I like playing music because it’s a good living and I get satisfaction from it. But I can’t feed my family with satisfaction.”

— James Hetfield

44. “A lot of modern amps and preamps sound great when you’re jamming by yourself, but don’t hold up in a band situation. The sound isn’t dense enough, and the lows and highs tend to get soaked up by the bass and cymbals.”

— James Hetfield

45. “I like a women who’s got some balls, some strength. As long as I can beat her at arm wrestling, that’s fine.”

— James Hetfield

46. “You want to hear vocals? Go sing it.”

— James Hetfield

47. “The band? No way! There ain’t no band. The band is not ‘the band’ right now. It’s just three guys.”

— James Hetfield

48. “It’s good to listen to lots of different stuff, just whatever you like. The first two records I ever bought were Alice Cooper, Killer and Jethro Tull, Aqualung. That’s two weird records to begin with, but I think they hold up well.”

— James Hetfield

49. “Aqualung is one that my brother turned me onto. It wasn’t that hard-rocking, but Martin Barre had a really good sound. He knew what he was doing.”

— James Hetfield

50. “Nothing can duplicate the sheer power and feeling you get from standing in front of your amp and bashing on your guitar.”

— James Hetfield