At 17, the first time I saw a dead body, I froze. By 31 it was a natural occurrence for me, and no group of people should live like that.

Don't wait for a Gandhi, don't wait for a King, don't wait for a Mandela. You are your own Mandela, you are your own Gandhi, you are your own King.

The world is upside down, it's going to take a lot of hands to turn it right side up.

We must continue to unite in sisterhood to turn our tears into triumph. There is no time to rest until our world achieves wholeness and balance, where all men and women are considered equal and free.

When women gather, great things will happen.

Leadership is standing with your people. People say you have to live to fight another day, but sometimes you have to show you are a true leader.

Activism is something that no one can fake. You get angry. You cry. But you never throw in your towel, because that anger is what is propelling you to further action.

There is something in this world that every individual can do. God has created all of us with something unique to contribute.

I don't feel like I've done anything extraordinary but take my little light and shine it in darkness.

You can tell people of the need to struggle, but when the powerless start to see that they really can make a difference, nothing can quench the fire.

It’s time for women to stop being politely angry.

Well, I'm from the South originally. I grew up in South Carolina definitely learning about manners and being proper and having to go to cotillions.

I'm straight edge, and that means I'm better than you.

That's what fame does to you. You acquire another self.

Never worry about what anyone else is doing...Just swim your own race.

Despite whoever created it, it's my world, & the only one I've got. Might as well make the best of it, right? Might as well have a little fun while I'm here. Or a lot of fun. Might be dead tomorrow.

The Golden Rule will always be good advice!

I have enough money to get by. I'm not independently wealthy, just independently lazy, I suppose.

Animals outline their territories with their excretions, humans outline their territories by ink excretions on paper.

Sometimes fate brings two people together by causing one to misinterpret a smile.

I still look to music to heal and bind; I still think the musician can be a trusted object offering his fellow-man solace but also a reminder of human excellence.