Glam really did plant seeds for a new identity. I think a lot of kids needed that – that sense of reinvention. Kids learned that however crazy you may think it is, there is a place for what you want to do and who you want to be.

‚Born this Way‘ is about being yourself, and loving who you are and being proud.

As a musician and a songwriter, it is an act of the ego to believe that other people might be interested in your point of view. But it is usually an empathetic nature that gets you going in the first place.

I decided, very early on, just to accept life unconditionally; I never expected it to do anything special for me, yet I seemed to accomplish far more than I had ever hoped. Most of the time it just happened to me without my ever seeking it.

God tells us not to judge one another, no matter what anyone’s sexual preferences are or if they’re black, brown or purple.

What is normal? Normal was yesterday. If you lose a leg, one day you’re hopping around on one leg, so you know the difference.

Why am I a star? It can’t be because of looks.

If you consider the definition of authenticity, it’s saying something and actually doing it. I write my own songs. I made my own videos. I pick my producers. Nothing goes out without my permission. It’s all authentic.

To me, the black black woman is our essential mother, the blacker she is the more us she is and to see the hatred that is turned on her is enough to make me despair, almost entirely, of our future as a people.

Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.

I am God’s vessel. But my greatest pain in life is that I will never be able to see myself perform live.

At first, I was scared to show fear because you can never be sure how people will perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, to stand out. Now I’ll talk about being beaten up or robbed or making a stupid decision because of a girl or whatever.

If you’re going to wake up early all the time, and you’re working hard, and you’re working out, sometimes you’re going to get tired. It’s OK. It’s acceptable – somewhat. We’re all human, unfortunately.

When I write a book, I write a book for myself; the reaction is up to the reader. It’s not my business whether people like or dislike it.

When I came into this industry, I was never afraid to be myself.

I don’t really focus on these things – on what tags are given to me or what people think of me off the field – stuff like that. My main focus is always to do well on the field for the Indian cricket team. When people say good things about me off the field, I am more than happy to accept them.

I’m not particularly a feminist, but if you get women off the animal cycle of reproduction and give them some say in how many children they’ll have, immediately the floor will rise.

To understand a name you must be acquainted with the particular of which it is a name.

Before all else, be armed.

Real beauty knocks you a little bit off kilter.

When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.

I think that by staying true to myself and making music from my heart, the blessings come.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

I didn’t know any gay people in my childhood.

Sex is a part of nature. I go along with nature.

I will not be triumphed over.

People think I’m a celebrity. I’m not a celebrity.

I don’t feel very comfortable defending my fashion except to say that people don’t have to buy it. You do have to consume. You have to live. If you’ve got the money to be able to afford it, then it’s really good to buy something from me, but don’t buy too much.

For people who may think they know, or have snippets of who I am, you can attack that person. That’s part of being a public figure.

I’m not ashamed to say I fear something.

I am attracted to people who make this effort in knowing what suits them – they are individual and stylish.

Hair is about when you’re younger. I am my hair.

My advice to other disabled people would be, concentrate on things your disability doesn’t prevent you doing well, and don’t regret the things it interferes with. Don’t be disabled in spirit as well as physically.

I break ground. I trailblaze.

Truthfully, without over-egging it, as I often do, the library and journalism, those things made me who I am.

You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.

I have only one counsel for you – be master.

I’m not looking to exclude people, I’m looking to include them.

I believe everyone should have a good death. You know, with your grandchildren around you, a bit of sobbing. Because after all, tears are appropriate on a death bed. And you say goodbye to your loved ones, making certain that one of them has been left behind to look after the shop.

I love to dance, but my children tell me I shouldn’t. Can’t see why.

Who shall measure the hat and violence of the poet’s heart when caught and tangled in a woman’s body?

We are Divine enough to ask and we are important enough to receive.

I am not happy, and the quest for happiness as a principal objective is not part of my world. Of course, ever since I can remember, I have done what I felt like doing.

We are not what we are, nor do we treat or esteem each other for such, but for what we are capable of being.

The world is before you and you need not take it or leave it as it was when you came in.

I always like to create things that get attention. It used to be a problem when I wasn’t famous. Now, I can do whatever I want and people have to accept it.

One of my big goals as a human being is to continue to write what’s really happening to me, even if it’s a tough pill to swallow for people around me… I do fear that if I ever were to have someone in my life who mattered, I would second-guess every one of my lyrics.

None of the records I make are ever a deliberate construction – they’re always an expression of who I am at the time and where I am in my life.

I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.

A good indignation brings out all one’s powers.

What’s the greater risk? Letting go of what people think – or letting go of how I feel, what I believe, and who I am?

I do believe in self-help.

Creation is a sustained period of bliss, even though the subject can still be very sad. Because there’s the triumph of coming through and understanding that you have, and that you did it the way only you could do it. You didn’t do it the way somebody told you to do it.

For my career, I wouldn’t go racing if I didn’t enjoy it. I still need to have my say, and not just get put with a team and get told to deal with it.

I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.

All black Americans have slave names. They have white names; names that the slave master has given to them.

I want to represent… to the kids to draw strength from me. So they can see that everybody goes through something, but you can rise up and do your best. Just try.

One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.

When I was fourteen and first started going out, I always wanted to be the opposite of everyone else. So I would go to the club in a polo T-shirt and pants and sneakers and a hat on backward, just so I would not be dressed like other girls.

People gonna be they own individuals and have they own worlds and I can’t knock it.

Although I’m only fourteen, I know quite well what I want. I know who is right and who is wrong. I have my opinions, my own ideas and principles, and although it may sound pretty mad from an adolescent, I feel more of a person than a child. I feel quite independent of anyone.