Whatever or however way you first discovered the infinitely cool Pharrell Williams, chances are it was the type of introduction that left a lasting impression.

Over 20 years into an unparalleled career, the Virginia-born native redefined pop culture as many times as he’s reinvented himself, in the process carving out a significant place for himself in musical history.

From attaining his first co-writing credit on Teddy Riley’s “Rump Shaker” to redefining pop’s sonic aesthetic throughout the 2000s, Pharrell has proven himself to be, beyond a time traveler, a visionary and contextual curator with a finger on the pulse of now and tomorrow.

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As he continues to be such a source of inspiration, whether through sound and words, we celebrate P’s birthday today (April 5) in the most fitting way possible: an archive of his essential quotes. Like him, these lines are ageless.

“ Don’t wait for the stars to align, reach up and rearrange them the way you want… create your own constellation ” — Twitter (2013)

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“ Victory comes from more than prayer and good deeds; it also can come through patience and long suffering ”

“ Life is a lesson… It’s a series of adjustments and you have to start to recognize the signs ” — “Oprah Prime” (2014)

“ Happiness is not about the trophy, or the finish line. It’s the journey. If you enjoy your journey, you can enjoy your life ”

“ If someone asks me what inspires me, I always say, “That which is missing,” because I don’t want to copy everything that’s already happening. I feel like when you copy, you blend in, and when you blend in, you get lost ”

“ There is no breathing human being on this planet that did not benefit by a woman saying yes twice… Yes to make you, and yes to have you. Point-blank. If women wanted to cripple the economy, all they gotta do is not go to work ” — GQ (2014)

“ In order to do great things, you must be unafraid to recreate yourself. You can’t do that holding on to a glory from yesterday.”

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“ There are no mistakes or accidents. The present is malleable. Influence the odds. Free will is your pen, write your life ” — Twitter (2014)

“ There’s a key for every door, and if you can’t find it, you can make one. That’s always an option.”

“ Wealth is of the heart and mind, not the pocket ”