“Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don’t, it hurts even more.”

R&B is not a fad; it’s the truth.

The milk of kindness flows through my body, I shall follow Jesus to the Taco Bell and give thanks.

Music changes, and I’m gonna change right along with it.

If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about.

If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how in the world do you think everybody’s supposed to respect you?

I’ve been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well.

Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home.

We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.

I know people I feel are extremely talented, but I don’t know that I’ve ever heard any geniuses.

I saw the Supremes when they were still singing in little black skirts and white blouses.

I love producing, writing. I rarely write with other writers unless I have a real great respect for them. Like Burt Bacharach, or Carole Sager, or Stevie Wonder. Somebody like Smokey – like that. Otherwise, I choose to write alone.

Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me.

I’ve never recorded anything I didn’t like.

I’m never tired of going to the studio. I enjoy recording and documenting everything and trying new things.

Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that god gave me to use. I’m happy with that.

I donate heavily to the church and various churches in the Detroit community and food banks.

Businesses that grow by development and improvement do not die.

My teacher asked me what I want to be when I grow up, I said happy. She told me I don’t understand the assignment, I told her she doesn’t understand life.

It happens to everyone as they grow up. You find out who you are and what you want, and then you realize that people you’ve known forever don’t see things the way you do. So you keep the wonderful memories, but find yourself moving on.

But there was one other thing that the grown-ups also knew, and it was this: that however small the chance might be of striking lucky, the chance is there. The chance had to be there.

The first requisite for success is the ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.

Growing old is unavoidable, but never growing up is possible. I believe you can retain certain things from your childhood if you protect them – certain traits, certain places where you don’t let the world go.

We supposed to be grown, but yet you still acting childish.

There are three things that grow more precious with age; old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to enjoy.