“We don’t really have any big family traditions; just spending time with each other is the most important part.”

Being in the studio is my absolute favorite thing.

Of course I write from experience, but I also do write from things that have happened in the world.

I’m not big on make up. I only have a make up artist for events.

It’s important to drive your own ship, and it’s your career, so you might as well take it by the reins.

The worst thing any of us can do for our self-esteem is compare ourselves to others, and that’s especially true of women.

I only have a stylist when I go to big events, but even then, I give them moodboards to show exactly how I want to look, so I’m mostly in control. I dress myself on a daily basis, though.

One thing I love about Lady Gaga is I feel like her sound is always evolving and changing with her and her phases of life.

I hate nothing more than feeling rushed to write a song or feeling like I have to write a song.

I take off my makeup with coconut oil some nights. It sounds like it would clog your pores, but I swear it’s saved my skin.

I want to make music that I would like if it came on the radio.

I’m not perfect. I’m not polished.

I wanted to convey the message of how I do what I want and how I run my own business, and I’m a woman in charge. I want all of my fans to know that that’s possible and feel empowered when they listen to my music.

I always say when someone says something negative about me, it’s really saying something negative about them.

I’m not opposed to acting. I do like to act.

I just love music. I think it’s art.

Not every girl who wears makeup feels like, ‘Oh, I’m so ugly without it.’ I wear makeup because it’s fun to put on, and I feel pretty with it on.

The biggest advantage to believing in God is you don’t have to understand anything, no physics, no biology. I wanted to understand.

Apart from being motivation for themselves, I think big givers should also talk about their philanthropy so that their work and their success stories prove inspirational enough for many others to follow.

But I wondered, how would I feel about killing someone? Now I know. It’s no big deal.

Love makes fools of us all, big and little.

The third big war will begin when the big city is burning.

Pain doesn’t know it’s small. Not until something bigger than itself tells it so.

The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous.

A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.