Ian MacKaye: When people who are songwriters say 'That's my property and if you give it away for free then I'll lose my incentive,' then, well, good riddance. http://www.downhillbattle.org/interviews/ian_mackaye.php
Perfect Sound Forever: How did the idea of 'straight-edge' come about?

Ian MacKaye: It was just the title of a song that I wrote. I guess I coined the phrase but certainly never intended to start a movement.http://www.furious.com/perfect/fugazi.html
Uno Mas: You may not take responsibility for the "Straight Edge" movement, but you are credited with it. How do you feel about that?

Ian MacKaye: I'm credited because I coined a phrase and wrote a song about it. I'm not going to spend any more energy than I already have explaining that. From the very beginning I've tried to say that this is not my opinion. That whole thing just makes me realize I don't have any control over what people think of me. And I don't really give a fuck.http://www.unomas.com/features/ianmackaye.html

We play loud electric guitar music, and we'd hope that that doesn't mean you have to act like an asshole.(on moshing)

Ian MacKaye: I think that the idea of straight edge, the song that I wrote, and the way people have related it it, there's some people who have abused it, they've allowed their fundamentalism to interfere with the real message, which in my mind, was that people should be allowed to live their lives the way they want to. http://www.scenepointblank.com/features/102