"My message here, and I do hope that in this book there is a message for people, is: If you are unhappy with anything-your mother, your father, your husband, your wife, your job, your boss, your car-whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you`ll find that when you`re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out."

I`m the only person left doing the kind of work that I do.

Sometimes you`ve got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything . . . whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you`ll find that when you`re free, your true creativity, your true self comes out.

The real power behind whatever success I have now was something I found within myself - something that`s in all of us, I think, a little piece of God just waiting to be discovered.

I will never give in to old age until I become old. And I`m not old yet!

Physical strength in a woman -- that`s what I am.

This is what I want in heaven... words to become notes and conversations to be symphonies.

There comes a point where it is just undignified to be a rock `n` roll star.

"Determination, perseverance, patience...I did it; I really did it!

"Age and colour are things I don`t think about, its a real obstacle for me to assume I cant have something because I`m a black woman.....or to tell myself I`m too old for this or that...i may have broken some rules.....I don`t put limits on my life"

"I think that your mother doesn`t wear mini dresses because your mother isn`t me"

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their own dreams"