My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.

In those days he was wiser than he is now; he used to frequently take my advice.

If I can give you one strong piece of advice, when you go away for that romantic weekend, whatever you do, do not accept or take the upgrade to the honeymoon suite.

A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.

Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.

I’m more of a realist when it comes to life, and I’d much rather my mother be in a spiritual place in Heaven than in a bed, sick, fighting for her life.

I never give advice unless someone asks me for it. One thing I’ve learned, and possibly the only advice I have to give, is to not be that person giving out unsolicited advice based on your own personal experience.

No woman should ever be quite accurate about her age. It looks so calculating.

If you are ever in doubt as to whether to kiss a pretty girl, always give her the benefit of the doubt.

I don’t like to give advice. I like to give people information because everyone’s life is different, and everyone’s journey is different.

Sometimes if you want to see a change for the better, you have to take things into your own hands.

Growing up, I decided, a long time ago, I wouldn’t accept any manmade differences between human beings, differences made at somebody else’s insistence or someone else’s whim or convenience.

In all my work, in the movies I write, the lyrics, the poetry, the prose, the essays, I am saying that we may encounter many defeats – maybe it’s imperative that we encounter the defeats – but we are much stronger than we appear to be and maybe much better than we allow ourselves to be. Human beings are more alike than unalike.

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.

These men ask for just the same thing, fairness, and fairness only. This, so far as in my power, they, and all others, shall have.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

I am not afraid… I was born to do this.

Once we start to act, hope is everywhere. So instead of looking for hope, look for action. Then, and only then, hope will come.

My own eight children all march to the beat of their inner music, and in some cases, it is definitely far away from what I hear. I’ve had to honor their instincts and their choices, and merely guided them out of harm’s way until they could be their own guides.

There’s very little advice in men’s magazines, because men don’t think there’s a lot they don’t know. Women do. Women want to learn. Men think, ‚I know what I’m doing, just show me somebody naked.‘

I have the people behind me and the people are my strength.

The best luck of all is the luck you make for yourself.

Blacks, especially in America, have been raised with a slave mentality – they don’t feel that they have the right to speak as loud as possible.

I found it hard to be young. When I was married in my twenties, I hated being regarded as ‚the little wife.‘ You don’t know what it was like then! I’d never even written a cheque. I had to ask my husband for money for groceries.

I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.

If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself. They came through you but not from you and though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free.

The advice that is wanted is commonly not welcome and that which is not wanted, evidently an effrontery.

There is no man on Earth or devil in Hell who can keep you from the very best God put in you.

My protest about the post exchange seating bore some results. More seats were allocated for blacks, but there were still separate sections for blacks and for whites. At least I had made my men realize that something could be accomplished by speaking out, and I hoped they would be less resigned to unjust conditions.

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

Not one person can make or break what I’m doing, except me or God.

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, ‚We did it ourselves.‘

In search of my mother’s garden, I found my own.

If the Almighty were to rebuild the world and asked me for advice, I would have English Channels round every country. And the atmosphere would be such that anything which attempted to fly would be set on fire.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it’s at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others.

Beware of geeks bearing formulas.

Life began with waking up and loving my mother’s face.

I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.

If there is only one thing in my life that I am proud of, it’s that I’ve never been a kept woman.

Nothing is more precious than independence and liberty.

I never ask anyone else’s opinion. They don’t count.

I was set free because my greatest fear had been realized, and I still had a daughter who I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. And so rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.

I would like to see people more aware of where their food comes from. I would like to see small farmers empowered. I feed my daughter almost exclusively organic food.

To get a hold on boys you must be their friend.

I sang a song at my sister’s wedding. My mother forced me into that, too. But that one felt all right.

I am impelled, not to squeak like a grateful and apologetic mouse, but to roar like a lion out of pride in my profession.

To complain is always nonacceptance of what is. It invariably carries an unconscious negative charge. When you complain, you make yourself into a victim. When you speak out, you are in your power. So change the situation by taking action or by speaking out if necessary or possible; leave the situation or accept it. All else is madness.

In a magazine, one can get – from cover to cover – 15 to 20 different ideas about life and how to live it.

I am grateful to be a woman. I must have done something great in another life.

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself.

I’ve always done whatever I want and always been exactly who I am.

Having been poor is no shame, but being ashamed of it, is.

My family has very strong women. My mother never laughed at my dream of Africa, even though everyone else did because we didn’t have any money, because Africa was the ‚dark continent‘, and because I was a girl.

The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.

I’m interested in women’s health because I’m a woman. I’d be a darn fool not to be on my own side.

Agency is a divine gift to you. You are free to choose what you will be and what you will do.

There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to never listen to any fear.

In the good old days when I was a senator, I was my own man.