Brad Pitt is singing like a bird lately. In this week’s issue of PARADE, he spills many a secret including why he became a father, why he won’t marry Angelina Jolie and why his marriage to Jennifer Aniston was pretend.

Check out some excerpts below, then visit Parade.com on Friday (Aug. 7) for the full interview.

On why he won’t marry Angelina Jolie:
“I have love in my life, a soul mate–absolutely. When someone asked me why Angie and I don’t get married, I replied, ‘Maybe we’ll get married when it’s legal for everyone else.’ I stand by that, although I took a lot of flak for saying it–hate mail from religious groups. I believe everyone should have the same rights. They say gay marriage ruins families and hurts kids. Well, I’ve had the privilege of seeing my gay friends being parents and watching their kids grow up in a loving environment.”

On knowing real love:
“Do you know how you tell real love? It’s when someone else’s interest trumps your own… Love of somebody else–of family, of your kids–becomes the most important, most worthwhile thing in your life.

On Angelina as a mom:
“One of the greatest, smartest things I ever did was give my kids Angie as their mom. She is such a great mom. Oh, man, I’m so happy to have her.”

On his marriage to Jennifer Aniston:
“I spent the ’90s trying to hide out, trying to duck the full celebrity cacophony. I started to get sick of myself sitting on a couch, holding a joint, hiding out. It started feeling pathetic. It became very clear to me that I was intent on trying to find a movie about an interesting life, but I wasn’t living an interesting life myself. I think that my marriage [to actress Jennifer Aniston] had something to do with it. Trying to pretend the marriage was something that it wasn’t.”

On the secret stone grotto behind the waterfall in his pool: 
“[It’s] a great place for sex.”