“I’m always happy. I’ve just got a mean face.”

Doing it your own way, not having to go exactly by the book to be successful.

I feel like I got a whole lot of living to do before I think about summing it up in a book.

I’m not actually from Compton – I’m from South Central Los Angeles, and my father still lives in the same house I grew up in, so I’m there all the time.

I grew up in the seventies and disco was big. That influenced me the most.

I think the worst thing you can do about a situation is nothing.

Don’t get a movie confused with real life. I’m a well-rounded human being like everyone else.

You pay to have a good time, you don’t always want to pay to be schooled or sad or reminded how bad you got it. To me a movie theater ain’t always the place for that.

I always want to read the script before I totally commit.

Rap is just somebody getting something off his chest. That’s all it is.

If you born in the mud, you gonna be dirty, and people don’t understand that.

I identify with the bottom of the pyramid, because, outside of having money, I am at the bottom of the pyramid.

I believe every pencil has to be sharpened every now and then to stay sharp, or you dull out. So my records, I chose to speak on what black people do, what white people do, what women do, what men do.

A bird in the hand is worth more than a Bush.

To me, in a perfect world, you have the flavor and the magic of movies like 48 Hours, Lethal Weapon and Bad Boys.

You like a woman, she’s got kids, it’s a package. You can’t just go in one-sided.

Truth is the ultimate power. When the truth comes around, all the lies have to run and hide.

If you’re a hater we make you scared to show your face. It’s called success.

Your power exists within the pain you were asked to face.

If then you remain constant in faith in the face of trial, the Lord will give you peace and rest for a time in this world, and forever in the next.

I will not force a pretty smile upon my face to please eyes that no longer see me.

I thought I was benefiting the Indians as well as the government, by taking them all over the United States, and giving them a correct idea of the customs, life, etc., of the pale faces, so that when they returned to their people they could make known all they had seen.

Our country has often stood like a solid rock in the face of common danger, and there is a deep underlying unity which runs like a golden thread through all our seeming diversity.

The smiling face is never out of fashion, so always keep smiling.

Pursue your goals even in the face of difficulties, and convert adversities into opportunities.