I dressed plain, but my partners were always spending more money on clothes than I could afford.

Basically there is no difference between whites and blacks, browns and yellows. I decided to think no more of people as Northerners and Southerners.

Whenever I played Columbus, Ohio, I dropped in to see my close friend, a medium who had mysterious powers. Her Indian guide was Mohawk.

We are all gifted. That is our inheritance.

We never had a bathtub. Mom would bathe me in the wooden or tin washtub in the kitchen, or in a big lard can.

I am somebody cause God don't make no junk

Many people know how to criticize, but few know how to praise.

Only those who are being burned know what fire is like.

Today or any day that phone may ring and bring good news.

There was one emotional outlet my people always had when they had the blues. That was singing.

All the men in my life have been two things: an epic and an epidemic.

When I am ready for the opportunity, I get lucky.

Man cannot control himself, and if he will not be controlled by Jesus Christ, then he will be controlled by Satan.

Life is not a game. Still, in this life, we choose the games we live to play.

It is difficult to be sure of our friends, but it is possible to be certain of our loyalty to them.

I like to play different types roles, but I'd like to do a comedy next.

Stop telling yourself that dreams don't matter, that they are only dreams and that you should be more sensible.

School is consonantal in its unchanging schedule. God, full of possibility, is a vowel. Death: the ultimate consonant.

Are you always trying to get somewhere other than where you are so that you can finally be happy? The truth is that all unhappiness is caused by denial of the present.

It's frightening to think that you mark your children merely by being yourself. It seems unfair. You can't assume the responsibility for everything you do --or don't do.

I will keep working hard!