Deal with yourself as a individual, worthy of respect and make everyone else deal with you the same way.

Floating to shore...riding a low moon...on a slow cloud.

I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try.

If you don't understand yourself you don't understand anybody else.

Nina Simone's music is incredibly honest. That's like saying, "Why does Jesus' word still stay around?" It's incredibly honest and it's good.

Poets can tell the truth as they see it. It’s the author’s story, the author’s voice.

I think it's the strength of her music, using art to make a statement. I think it really is. It was not a cheap gift. The gift was an expensive gift for Nina [Simone]. Diamonds are expensive. Her music was expensive. She paid for it, but I think it's her greatest gift.