I always put myself out there. I’m not afraid to commit to something.

You’ve got to learn to survive a defeat. That’s when you develop character.

If you realize all the time what’s kind of wonderful – that is, if we expand our experience into wilder and wilder regions of experience – every once in a while, we have these integrations when everything’s pulled together into a unification, in which it turns out to be simpler than it looked before.

I’ve played with IVs before, during and after games. I’ve played with a broken hand, a sprained ankle, a torn shoulder, a fractured tooth, a severed lip, and a knee the size of a softball. I don’t miss 15 games because of a toe injury that everybody knows wasn’t that serious in the first place.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

I would rather make my name than inherit it.

We should not look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience.

I always hated how I looked on camera. I never put a face to my music, which actually made the music that much more mysterious.

I’m very secure about my talents and about who I am.

I’m not a person who defends myself very often. I kind of let my actions speak for me.

In the child, consciousness rises out of the depths of unconscious psychic life, at first like separate islands, which gradually unite to form a ‚continent,‘ a continuous landmass of consciousness. Progressive mental development means, in effect, extension of consciousness.

Forty is when you actually begin even deserving to be on stage telling people what you think.

For me, being raised in a free America made all the difference.

There are no second acts in American lives.

If I make a fool of myself, who cares? I’m not frightened by anyone’s perception of me.

I think it all comes down to motivation. If you really want to do something, you will work hard for it.

Don’t ever doubt yourselves or waste a second of your life. It’s too short, and you’re too special.

Overall there’s going to be things I’m not great at.

People who boast about their I.Q. are losers.

I once wanted to prove myself by being a great actress. Now I want to prove that I’m a person. Then maybe I’ll be a great actress.

You have to feel confident. If you don’t, then you’re going to be hesitant and defensive, and there’ll be a lot of things working against you.

When you are aspiring to the highest place, it is honorable to reach the second or even the third rank.

I would say things like ‚I am the greatest! I’m pretty! If you talk jive, you’ll drop in five! I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! I’m pretty!‘ When white people heard me talking like this, some said, ‚That black man talks too much. He’s bragging.‘

I’m like a recovering perfectionist. For me it’s one day at a time.

Quitting doesn’t enter my mind.

I’ve learned over the years that when I go to that place of passion within me, there’s no force in the universe that can interfere with my completing a project.

I’m convinced that no one can amount to a damn in the arts if he becomes sweetly reasonable, seeing all sides of a picture, forgiving all sins.

Back in the day, what motivated me was overcoming myself. Now I believe in being a leader. I’ve done it all – I’m good. Now, it’s about setting an example for others to follow. I can’t just talk it – I have to live it.

I’ve realized that being happy is a choice. You never want to rub anybody the wrong way or not be fun to be around, but you have to be happy. When I get logical and I don’t trust my instincts – Thats when I get in trouble.

I am my own sanctuary and I can be reborn as many times as I choose throughout my life.

The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.

There’s two sorts of fear: one you embrace and one you should listen to and turn the other way.

I write for myself things that I’ve gone through.

I definitely don’t plead guilty to being a heartthrob.

I used to have insecurity about my finances, then I announced that I had debt, and now I don’t have any insecurities.

If you’re embarrassed because you have some notion about how men are supposed to behave, and it doesn’t include weeping, then you have some personal work to do.

You can have the platinum album. But, you know, when you still feel like you haven’t quite found your place in the world, it kind of gives a crazy offset.

I would storm the gates of Hell if Third Marine Air Wing was overhead.

I’m kind of fascist with myself, you know.

These things bring you to reality as to how fragile you are; at the same moment you are doing something that nobody else is able to do. The same moment that you are seen as the best, the fastest and somebody that cannot be touched, you are enormously fragile.

I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.

I don’t know anything that builds the will to win better than competitive sports.

I don’t think I will ever be content. I am somebody who is always hungry.

I’m the greatest thing that ever lived! I’m the king of the world! I’m a bad man. I’m the prettiest thing that ever lived.

My entire childhood was steeped in poverty. For me, poverty, in a way, was the first inspiration of my life, a commitment to do something for the poor.

Once you start doing only what you’ve already proven you can do, you’re on the road to death.

The best way to keep one’s word is not to give it.

Relish everything that’s inside of you, the imperfections, the darkness, the richness and light and everything. And that makes for a full life.

Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.

I have my flaws too, but I am a professional who doesn’t like to miss or lose.

It’s better to be unhappy alone than unhappy with someone – so far.

I used to have a real problem with self-pity. Every time the devil would throw a pity party, I would attend.

Nurture your minds with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes.

I’m not a natural performer or exhibitionist. When I was younger, I hated the focus, and it made me feel strange.

The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That’s the day we truly grow up.

I think I could go away tomorrow. I’ve already accomplished something. It’s such a selfish business that sometimes I get sick of myself.

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.

God has entrusted me with myself.

Humble people ask for help.

I don’t think about that. I wasn’t a kid growing up saying one day I’ll get an Oscar and make a speech. That wasn’t on my mind. So what I do is the best work I can do.

I was a fighting machine with a will of iron.