A violinist had a violin, a painter his palette. All I had was myself. I was the instrument that I must care for.

I like Frenchmen very much, because even when they insult you they do it so nicely.

I have never really been a great artist. I have been a human being that has loved art, which is not the same thing. But I have loved and believed in art and the idea of universal brotherhood so much, that I have put everything I have into them, and I have been blessed.

One dance had made me the most famous colored woman in the world.

I believe if the white and colored people could get together and be let alone, they would understand each other and consequently love each other.

I wanted to get far away from those who believed in cruelty, so then I went to France, a land of true freedom, democracy, equality and fraternity.

I was a devil in other countries, and I was a little devil in America, too.