“If you hear how wonderful you are often enough, you begin to believe it, no matter how you try to resist it.”

You have to try, you have to try everything you can.

I hope we, the American people, can come to the understanding that we are not each other’s enemies. The enemies are those who are stoking the flames of division, trying to divide us into every category.

Our children need to see and hear about more black role models in many fields so they can make better choices.

My favorite subject was recess. Fortunately for me, I had a mother who believed I was smart.

I think one of the keys to leadership is recognizing that everybody has gifts and talents. A good leader will learn how to harness those gifts toward the same goal.

No matter how good you are at planning, the pressure never goes away. So I don’t fight it. I feed off it. I turn pressure into motivation to do my best.

No one is ever better off with dictators but there comes a time you know, when you’re on an airplane, they always say, “in case of an emergency oxygen masks will drop down. Put yours on first and then administer help to your neighbor.” We need oxygen right now.

We create our own destiny by the way we do things. We have to take advantage of opportunities and be responsible for our choices.

Some people say you’re weak because, you know, you’re not loud and you’re not boisterous and you’re not rude. But the fact of the matter is, look and see what I’ve done. And that speaks volumes about strength.

I don’t know why there is this penchant for snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory, they’ll find some way to destroy themselves. And it is just maddening to see it happening.

You have to take a long-term look at something that fundamentally changes the power structure of America.

I detest politics, to be honest with you. It’s a cesspool. And I don’t think I would fare well in that cesspool because I don’t believe in political correctness and I certainly don’t believe in dishonesty.

There is a tendency of people to try to make you believe only a few people are smart. As a brain surgeon, I know better than that.

Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God, you can live your dreams.

You can read the Constitution all you want, it never says that it is the government’s job and I think where we’ve gotten confused.

The culture in which we live stresses looking out for number one. Without adopting such a self-centered value system, we can demand the best of ourselves while we are extending our hands to help others.

Tone is a very difficult thing. You can’t write tone, I don’t think. You can try – you certainly try. I write too, so I know I’m trying desperately to communicate to whoever’s going to direct my pieces, the way I see the humor. But it’s very difficult.

The Spirit tells me – Fidel Castro will die – in the 90s. Oooh my! Some will try to kill him and they will not succeed. But there will come a change in his physical health, and he will not stay in power, and Cuba will be visited of God.

We’ll attack anyone who tries to harm our citizens.

I built a career on my archetype, and I’m grateful, but I’m trying to stretch.

I tend to have a cup of tea, try to stop worrying about what I did wrong, cool down and will the audience back in as soon as possible.

I have a friend who says the best boyfriends are ones with intimidating, good-looking older brothers. The boyfriends try harder because they’re so insecure. Maybe I’m the female equivalent.

Don’t try to buy at the bottom and sell at the top. It can’t be done except by liars.

For once you must try not to shirk the facts: mankind is kept alive by bestial acts.