Thank God in advance for what's already yours.

Even though the story [Fences] is set during the 1950s, some contemporary women might have trouble understanding her decision.

I asked my mother I said, "You divorced my dad, how did you decide? She said, "I decided twelve years before he knew it." I was like wow; I'm learning something new every day.

I've just directed a film called The Great Debaters, which is inspired by a true story about a young college debating team in the thirties and two of those people are still alive and we put them on tape on the film and I'm sure that will be added to the DVD, and to get the opportunity to do that is very cool.

If you have an enemy, then learn and know your enemy, don't just be mad at him or her.

Don't be afraid to fail big, to dream big.

I think the bottom of the totem pole is African-American women, or women of colour. I think they get the least opportunities in Hollywood.