“It’s a dirty job being ridiculous, but I’ll do it.”

My mother was the most creative, fantastic person and would come up with great things for us to do. She’d buy art supplies and all of us would sit around painting. I was lucky.

If you’re black in this country, if you’re a woman in this country, if you are any minority in this country at all, what could possibly possess you to vote Republican?

I remember a great America where we made everything. There was a time when the only thing you got from Japan was a really bad cheap transistor radio that some aunt gave you for Christmas.

If you’re waiting for someone to believe in you, you’ll be waiting forever. You must believe in yourself.

Life is about enjoying yourself and having a good time.

I’ve always taken risks, and never worried what the world might really think of me.

Hate crimes are the scariest thing in the world because these people really believe what they’re doing is right.

If you really want something you can figure out how to make it happen.

If you are going to wait for someone to encourage you to do something, you just better give up.

I was a shy ugly kid who led a big fantasy life. I thought I was an angel sent from heaven, to cure polio. When Dr. Salk did that I was really pissed off.

I’ve never compromised who I am not ever. If I’ve gotten anywhere in my life it’s been on my own merits.

I’m scared to death of being poor. It’s like a fat girl who loses 500 pounds but is always fat inside. I grew up poor and will always feel poor inside. It’s my pet paranoia.

Unless you’re willing to look a little foolish, forget the possibility of becoming great.

The only thing in the world you can change is yourself and that makes all the difference in the world.

If you can’t go straight ahead, you go around the corner.

I think that the longer I look good, the better gay men feel.