I don't confuse greatness with perfection. To be great anyhow is the higher achievement.

The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them.

Poets speak of hope in ladies smiles, but give me a smirk any day, I say.

Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself.

Don't wish to be normal. Wish to be yourself. To the hilt. Find out what you're best at, and develop it, and hopscotch your weaknesses. Wish to be great at whatever you are.

I'm very interested in the impact of biotechnology on the way people live.

If you can't be seven feet tall, be seven feet smart.

Aim high. You may still miss the target, but at least you won't shoot your foot off.

Since no one is perfect, it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of imperfection. Yet they were accomplished, somehow, all the same.

When you give each other everything, it becomes an even trade. Each wins all.

Adversity does teach who your real friends are.

Successful people achieve because they think beforehand when it works & think afterwards when it doesn't work.

He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life's pleasures is like a blacksmith's bellows he breathes but does not live.

As Jules Renard said, no matter how much care an author takes to write as few books as possible, there will be people who haven't heard of some of them.

I'm trying to get a thicker skin. I like to be aware of people's perceptions of me, but when you put it as a priority, as a means to judging your worth, that's when it can be dangerous.

There was a time - and I used to get made fun of a lot - that all I collected was soundtracks

As soon as you give your heart to something new you will immediately be able to think in a way that is new.

It's important to be honest enough about your work, and the areas in which you can improve. I'm still learning every day and I'm still Hungry to create more and better work, hence the name.

I hate the photo shoots. I hate all that stuff.

There was no freedom in life, and certainly there was none in death.

You don't have a baby based on that publicity madness. People don't live like that. Especially black people who were raised in families with morals and standards and integrity.