The stage is the place I feel comfortable - it's almost as if real life is where I feel most nervous. Conversations are a lot more nerve-wracking.

Hands up if you’re ready to do something you’ll regret this weekend. Go forth! You have my blessing.

I think I should get a bigger between-the-song persona, so then I'm not wandering around the stage like some mad old auntie that's saying hello to people and falling over.

When I'm singing I'm always trying to get to the highest point possible. I'd fly to the top of Buckingham Palace to sing to the queen.

I like a house party and fancy dress, a big fan of fancy dress, like dress up, costume parties.

I try to maintain a healthy dose of daydreaming, to remain sane.

Having a soul, they say, is like taking sadness and turning it into something beautiful.

If you do something with your whole heart and it's a mistake, you can live with that.

I like the idea of not being afraid of letting your imagination rule you, to feel the freedom of expression, to let creativity be your overwhelming drive rather than other things.

Sometimes I find that music is so much more attractive than love. I don’t know… It’s like some kind of euphoria, that love can’t bring to you.

You should have high expectations for yourself and others should come second.

That would be the death of anyone - to recognize false hopes with a certainty. One mustn't know that. If it is offered, refuse!

The more history I learn, the more the world fills up with stories.

I want to be cremated so people won't come to worship at my bones.

The novelist does not long to see the lion eat grass. He realizes that one and the same God created the wolf and the lamb, then smiled, “seeing that his work was good.”

The corruption of the American soul is consumerism.

A poor white woman from the South is different than a poor black woman from the South, and has a completely different experience.

Conscience allows us to do two things: Pass judgment on ourselves; approve or condemn our own conduct.

Differentiate your products, provide great service and don't even think about trying to compete with Wal-Mart on Price.

Winners don't just learn the fundamentals, they master them. You have to monitor your fundamentals constantly because the only thing that changes will be your attention to them.

I like my wine and vodka, but that doesn't mean I fall about drunk. I know my limits.