When people read erotic symbols into my painting, they're really thinking about their own affairs.

Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing.

I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.

The men liked to put me down as the best woman painter. I think I'm one of the best painters.

I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way - things I had no words for.

Filling a space in a beautiful way - that is what art means to me.

I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty.

If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for a moment.

Nobody sees a flower really; it is so small. We haven't time, and to see takes time - like to have a friend takes time.

To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage.

It's not enough to be nice in life. You've got to have nerve.

As long as we take thought, we will continue to matter".

My prayer to God is a very short one "Oh Lord make my enemies ridiculous!" God has granted it.

The real reason for not committing suicide is because you always know how swell life gets again after the hell is over.

You know it's love when all you want is that person to be happy, even if you're not part of their happiness.

You have to really understand that although certain memories or stories make you sad, you are not sad. Pull yourself out from that emotion and remember that.

The people I chose to work with me on this album are there because I have a personal relationship with them.

It will always hurt to be laughed at, snubbed, ignored or attacked by others. But I would remind you that the human personality grows through adversity, provided it is not crushed in the process.

Who doesn’t want a Cy Young Award? What kid didn’t grow up wanting to be the best? I’m no different. I want to be the best. I’ve always wanted to be the best.

My souls sits in silence, and then asks again, where are you in all of this?

Everything is connected. There is nothing that is not connected.