My family always helped me. I had people around me who always pushed me to be the best: my dad, my mum. My dad used to play and coach as well. But I wasn't born with shiny things.

Be fearless in releasing the productivity of your time

At least in America, you have freedom of speech, which is a good thing. It's just a question of whether you're allowed to use it on 'Fox News'.

Friends are people who are in your life because you feel good around them and you like them. Friends are the people you choose to be with.

I never thought I'd see the day that I would see white folks as frightened, or more so, than black folks was during the civil rights movement when we was in Mississippi.

I found ways to seal off the powdery surface of pastel so that gold leaf can adhere to it. Similarly, I found ways to roughen the texture of the gold leaf so pastel can be applied over it.

Enjoying praise is in some people merely a civility of the heart--and just the opposite of a vanity of the spirit.

To beat Federer 3 times does not mean anything he is a genius whose hair does not even move when he plays.

“I often think,” said she, “that there is nothing so bad as parting with one's friends. One seems so forlorn without them.”

Music at its essence is what gives us memories.

Sad songs seem to work for me, but I don't want to be redundant; I want to add a little flavor.