“Stay up and really burn the midnight oil. There are no compromises.”

“You should always know when you're shifting gears in life. You should leave your era it should never leave you.”

“If you are going to think black think positive about it. Don't think down on it or think it is something in your way. And this way when you really do want to stretch out and express how beautifu...”

“For a long time the only time I felt beautiful-in the sense of being complete as a woman as a human being and even female-was when I was singing.”

“Who I am is the best I can be.”

“If I do have some success I'd like to enjoy it for heaven's sake! What is the point of having it otherwise?”

“The worlds most successful people didnt wait for someone else to pick them, but instead, they picked themselves.”

“Play around. Dive into absurdity and write. Take chances. You will succeed if you are fearless of failure.”

“Want something else more than success. Success is a lovely thing, but your desire to say something, your worth, and your identity shouldnt rely on it, because its not guaranteed and its not permane...”