If I told you Jesus Christ was black you're going to be afraid of me because I'm telling you the truth. That's where I always come from.

I can't hang out as loose as I used to, but I can still go down Jefferson Avenue and look in the faces of winos, pimps and junkies, all the things I'm made of.

Funkers are people who dig the funk; Little funkers, Big funkers, Old funkers, Young funkers, Foxy funkers, Mother funkers, Papa funkers.

Whether you're rich or poor, life's still cold-blooded.

She's the kind you don't take home to mother.

My teacher said I would either be a hoodlum, or a great entertainer.

I just live one day at a time.

If anything I consider myself non-violent. I'm from the hippy era, peace, love, groovy.

I'm still James Johnson. Rick James is a stage name. James Johnson keeps Rick James on the ground... Kind of sort of.

You and I, we'll be together 'til the six is nine.

Off stage it's cool-out time. You can't funk and roll ALL the time.

Passion is a cobweb duster for the mind.

God has already been in your tomorrow, and is working on your today.

Some will, some won't. Look for the ones who will.

Success didn't spoil me, I've always been insufferable.

It is now no mystery that some quite influential 'philosophers' were 'mentally' ill.

Nobody should try to play comedy unless they have a circus going on inside.

In my view, the humanity of our world can be measured against the fate of Africa.

You’'ve got to understand that everything has its time. I had wonderful years as a boxer, I achieved everything. I don’t miss anything.

In water, like in books—you can leave your life.

Finding permanent and universal causes for misfortune is the practice of despair.