I’ve done well, I’ve been disappointed, and I think it all goes back to you. Of course the labels are going to be the labels. It’s the music business. You are a business. That’s what they do. So you’ve got to protect yourself.

I'm searching for a real love.

You can't get around pain and opposition, but you can try to be joyful in the trial, and thank yourself for the trial, and thank God for the strength to get through it.

When someone comes up to me and says, 'Mary, you helped save my marriage', or, 'Mary, you helped me get out of this abusive relationship', I'm in it, really in their lives. And I'm so passionate about my feelings, but also about showing people the way through theirs.

I wouldn't adopt, but what I will do is give my time and go and try to be there for people.

The younger Mary J. Blige, I would call her, she was very unaware, ignorant.

When I was a child I didn't care about getting an education, and I didn't finish high school.