I'm blessed to be in an environment where people are sincere.

Singing is my life. And when I can do that, that's when I'm free. That's when I'm at my happiest, I'm at my most.

I'm not going to sing something if it doesn't make sense to me, or if it makes me look like I'm begging someone or I'm weak, because that's not me.

I'm singing, you know, because I'm happy and I'm free.

Some people can sit down and write a song, but they can't go on stage like I can.

Play with me and you play with fire.

I'm going to keep on keeping on as long as I've got my health and strength, and God gives me that will to do it.

God's eye is on a sparrow. And I know - oh, yes, I know he watches over me...

Music is my happiness, my joy, and when my body wasn't right I couldn't get into my music without being healed, without being healthy.

When I'm on tour, I don't see these spots as much as I'd like. I'm just in, I perform, then I'm out. I hope to spend years sightseeing, then more years after that.

I miss my hair, but I feel like going out there with some fake braids wouldn't be right. I want to be the most genuine performer I can be.

...Belief is strong. Stronger than rationality. Fear, love hope -all rational emotions, but they sway people more fiercely than any fact-based argument.

Your Real Self is the permanent atom of your identity, the rock of ages that remains unmoved by the restless tides of life.

Hope is a vigorous principle ... it sets the head and heart to work and animates a man to do his utmost.

... passion for survival is the great theme of women's poetry.

I done been to the pearly gates, they sent me back said the good die young I ain't eligible for that

I am unable to distinguish between the feeling I have for life and my way of expressing it.

I am persuaded that foolish writers and foolish readers are created for each other; and that fortune provides readers as she does mates for ugly women.

I think jazz and comic books are probably the two uniquely American art forms.

Leaders can only lead willing, preferably zealous followers so don't get too far out in front of your team.

Every tree and plant in the medouw seemed to be dancing, those with average eyes would see as fixed and still.