When I sing, it's the most solitary state: just me, and the microphone, and the holy spirit. It's not about notes or scales, it's all about emotion.

I don't do anything in order to cause trouble. It just so happens that what I do naturally causes trouble. I'm proud to be a troublemaker.

Women are to be valued for so much more than their sexuality. We aren’t merely objects of desire.

I understand that we are actually complicated people but we are also dreadfully simple.

I don't believe in any kind of artistic snobbery or musical snobbery. You know, to me, the sexiest and the most spiritual words ever uttered in rock and roll are wop babaloo balop bam boom.

Maybe it was mean, but I really don't think so. You asked for the truth and I told you.

When you dishonor the the utter glory and majesty of black people, you lie. Your heart lies to you and you let it

I grew up in a situation of extreme abuse, but there was no chance to talk about it, so music became the escape if you like.

At some point the entire population of the earth is gonna have to look back at the kind of essence of spirituality which is basically caring about each other.

We have a tradition of passing our history orally and singing a lot of it and writing songs about it and there's kind of a calling in Irish voices when they're singing in their Irish accent.

When I kissed you, you didn't mind. I thought I tasted of too many cigarettes, but you tasted like wine.

Your coming to Christ is not for you to fill up the seats or to take part in rites

To many people fall short of their goals because they mistakenly believe that losing is just another comfortable place to sit.

Happiness consists in activity. It is running steam, not a stagnant pool.

A little anger is a good thing if it isn't on your own behalf, if it's for others deserving of your anger, your empathy.

I think the real free person in society is one that's disciplined. It's the one that can choose; that is the free one.

I don't bring God into my life to - to, you know, kind of be a political person.

The bubble hasn't popped yet and there's tremendous value in social media. ... But it's wishful thinking to believe that others on the 'me too' bandwagon will survive.

I've had an advantage; I've had a sort of open public acceptance in New York that doesn't happen to just anyone trying to make the transition you were talking about.

Many people think they could do much better if they only had the opportunity that they don’t realize they already have.

O call not me to justify the wrong, That thy unkindness lays upon my heart, Wound me not with thine eye but with thy tongue, Use power with power, and slay me not by art.