If culture was a railroad, I can see the tracks running from the Spirituals to the Hip Hop Nation.

Deal with yourself as a individual, worthy of respect and make everyone else deal with you the same way.

She knows who she is, because she knows who she isn't.

Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.

The only way you can grow is to let yourself make mistakes and create contradictions. As we learn new things, some of our old attitudes will change.

We are strong enough to stand tall tearlessly, we are brave enough to bend to cry, and we are sad enough to know that we must laugh again.

We have a world to conquer...one person at a time...starting with ourselves.

I want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.

We love because it's the only true adventure.

You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts.

Once you know who you are, you don't have to worry anymore.

I may have been buzzed last night, but I remember everything. I can't promise you that I won't want to drive you home, or kiss you like crazy again. Because I will. I do.

There will be something anguish or elation that is peculiar to this day alone. I rise from sleep and say: Hail to the morning! Come down to me my beautiful unknown.

My mom taught me to go after my dreams. I have this faith in myself that I must have gotten from her.

Facebook is great for getting upset about things people say even though you haven't seen them in 12 years.

I read these polls because civil-liberties organizations tell me I need to be aware of public opinion.

Our first responsibility in all things is to preserve our goodness of heart - then and only then act.

I didn't lie! I just created fiction with my mouth!

Barack Obama's inspirational whoosh to the presidency in 2008 was unusual. Most campaigns are less exhilarating; indeed, they are downright disappointing - until someone wins.

Why sing music that you get to choose that isn't personal to you? That is the great thing about what I do.

How to succeed? Try hard enough.