“Stay humble and be concerned for the less fortunate.”

I had seven brothers and four sisters. I told my mama, ‘One of these days I’m going to be big and strong and buy you a beautiful house.’ That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do with my life, is to take care of my mother.

I believe in the Golden Rule – The Man with the Gold… Rules.

I answer only to God.

I was one of the wildest Santa Clauses they ever had.

I won’t do a movie or a video that would bring disrespect to my mother.

They shouldn’t make the departure of a dancer so tear jerky because nobody’s going to war.

I used to carry my father’s Bible and put it on the pulpit so he could preach.

If I forget to pray, I can’t get through the day without snapping at people.

I thank God I’m in a position where I can pick and choose – there are some roles I don’t play.

I’m a mama’s boy because everything I do is with respect to my mother.

I would never do a commercial if I thought it was offensive to anyone.

You know, T can stand for anything. T stand for working hard. T stand for loving thy neighbor. T stand for feeding the hungry. T stand for just working, working, working, being happy on the set, you know, lifting everybody’s spirits. T stands for just a nice guy.

I pray to God. I don’t pray to the president, the governor, the mayor, no black caucus, no this and that. I pray to God, and that’s the end of it.

I don’t have a problem with Hulk Hogan. People say things and do things, and who am I to judge?

When I was little, I used to adore gold. It was something special.

I tell everybody, I get so much because I give so much. I give freely, I give all my time, give all my money, give all of my soul.

When something good comes your way, you better feel fortunate, because it doesn’t last forever.

Unfortunately I’ve been to jail a couple times. Anytime I come in it’s difficult to make music, write songs.

I was very fortunate to have known Fred Ross Sr., who was organizing the Community Service Organization (CSO) way back in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I was able to work with him.

And we’re fortunate if we have parents who are great and loving and inspiring. But, unfortunately, there are people who don’t have that.

I hope that all of us who were fortunate enough to have benefited will put our time, our resources and our efforts into making sure that kids, particularly kids without means, have a way to achieve.

Fortunately the sky is beautiful everywhere.

Unfortunately, the more complex the system, the greater the room for error.

You are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.