What broke Mom's heart was realizing that her children knew nothing and cared nothing about the better side of life.

Basically there is no difference between whites and blacks, browns and yellows. I decided to think no more of people as Northerners and Southerners.

Whenever I played Columbus, Ohio, I dropped in to see my close friend, a medium who had mysterious powers. Her Indian guide was Mohawk.

We are all gifted. That is our inheritance.

We never had a bathtub. Mom would bathe me in the wooden or tin washtub in the kitchen, or in a big lard can.

I am somebody cause God don't make no junk

Many people know how to criticize, but few know how to praise.

Only those who are being burned know what fire is like.

Today or any day that phone may ring and bring good news.

There was one emotional outlet my people always had when they had the blues. That was singing.

All the men in my life have been two things: an epic and an epidemic.

We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.

You are the future and don’t waste your energy peeking into your past

To live is to grow.

People are going to behave however the social norms permit, and beyond that.

Our faces will become works of art that our grandchildren will treasure.

Sometimes, I'm very embarrassed.

(After the losses) I decided I had to break through. I had to set a goal. My goal that I set was to never be pinned.

The higher the yield, the higher the risk. A high yield is designed to attract investors. An outrageously high yield attracts fools.

I miss working with great actors, working with great directors.

The red-carpet thing of premieres and parties is probably my least favourite part of my job.