I think music is one of the hero/sheroes of the African-American existence.

Nothing will work unless you do.

A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.

We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. Please remember that your difficulties do not define you. They simply strengthen your ability to overcome.

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style

If you are always trying to be normal you will never know how amazing you can be.

You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise!

Leadership begins by asking how you can make things better?

You can either wonder or worry. It is better to choice the former.

Of course I believe in hell. I have three brothers.

Adlai Stevenson - a Henry James character in a Reader's Digest world.

At 25, you've got millions of brain cells to kill.

We have no right to believe that freedom can be won without struggle.

Marketing is too important to be left to the marketing department.

Artists don't always know. Almost every song I ever recorded that was a hit at the majors that the promotional people picked I didn't think it would be a hit. I was wrong every time!

Chance is a word void of sense; nothing can exist without a cause.

I would not have a slave to till my ground, To carry me, to fan me while I sleep, And tremble when I wake, for all the wealth That sinews bought and sold have ever earn'd.