Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.

Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.

So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.

She is the mother I never had, she is the sister everybody would want. She is the friend that everybody deserves. I don't know a better person.

I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.

I don't believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process.

Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.

For everyone of us that succeeds, it's because there's somebody there to show you the way out.

The thing you fear most has no power. Your fear of it is what has the power. Facing the truth really will set you free.

The whole point of being alive is to evolve into the complete person you were intended to be.

It's much easier for me to make major life, multi-million dollar decisions, than it is to decide on a carpet for my front porch. That's the truth.

Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.

If you come to fame not understanding who you are, it will define who you are.

Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.

Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.

What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come.

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.

I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life.

Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.

I still have my feet on the ground, I just wear better shoes.

You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.

Turn your wounds into wisdom.

I always knew I was destined for greatness.

I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.

I have a lot of things to prove to myself. One is that I can live my life fearlessly.

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

My first day in Chicago, September 4, 1983. I set foot in this city, and just walking down the street, it was like roots, like the motherland. I knew I belonged here.

Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself.

As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.

The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.

My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with.

Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.

What material success does is provide you with the ability to concentrate on other things that really matter. And that is being able to make a difference, not only in your own life, but in other people's lives.

Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.

You CAN have it all. You just can't have it all at once.

Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.

I'm black, I don't feel burdened by it and I don't think it's a huge responsibility. It's part of who I am. It does not define me.

It isn't until you come to a spiritual understanding of who you are - not necessarily a religious feeling, but deep down, the spirit within - that you can begin to take control.

Unless you choose to do great things with it, it makes no difference how much you are rewarded, or how much power you have.

Biology is the least of what makes someone a mother.

I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity.

The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.

My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you I the best place for the next moment.

I'm sick of people sittin' in chairs stating their problems. Then we roll the videotape... then we have our experts on the topic... I'm in the 'What's next?' phase of my career.

If you want to accomplish the goals of your life, you have to begin with the spirit.

I'm not even kind of a lesbian.

I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull.