We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

I want to write so well that a person is 30 or 40 pages in a book of mine ... before she realizes she's reading.

I'm grateful to be of use. I will not be misused or abused, but I will be of use to anybody.

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size But when I start to tell them, They think I'm telling lies. I say, It's in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I'm a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That's me.

I could fall in love with a sumo wrestler if he told stories and made me laugh. Obviously, it would be easier if someone was African-American and lived next door and went to the same church. Because then I wouldn't have to translate.

Growing up, my grandmother did not want worldly music in the house. Then when I went out to California, I started listening to Spanish music, mostly Mexican music. But were I in Egypt, I would listen to the music of the people, or if I was in Italy, I'd listen to Italian music.

Modesty is a learned affectation. And as soon as life slams the modest person against the wall, that modesty drops.