I tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.

I love the classics but there are many new ideas to be made into reality. I'd rather be concerned with my own thing. There are many masters of classical piano so I'll leave it to them.

I do not believe in mixing of the races. You can quote me. I don't believe in it, and I never have. I've never changed. I've never changed my hair. I've never changed my color, I have always been proud of myself, and my fans are proud of me for remaining the way I've always been. I married a white man one time, but he was a creep

To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music.

I know I'm different, but I don't think about it.

I'm sorry that I did not become the world's first black classic pianist. I think I would have been happier.

You have to learn to get up from the table when love is not being served.