When you go on a stage, before you go on a stage you're really scared and you're really frightened. You don't know what to do. "Why did I say yes to this?" But once you're on the stage you think, "Okay."

What surprises me is-even though discrimination against women and racial discrimination still exist, they have improved a lot, especially among artists. And just when I felt I could finally take a break, I encounter the age discrimination. I turned 72 and started noticing a drastic difference in people's attitudes. I started with racism and sexism in the beginning and fought them so hard and was finally ready to relax. Then, here comes ageism, and I feel like, "Give me a break!"

Most people think that I am too optimistic, but my optimism is based on the thought that negative thinking is a luxury that we can't afford.

It's always good to do something that is not a repeat. I just don't believe in repeating.

We mustn't be traditional in the way we communicate with people - especially with the Establishment. We should surprise people by saying new things in an entirely new way. Communication of that sort can have a fantastic power so long as you don't do only what they expect you to do.

I saw sorrow turning into clarity.

Creativity is innate and it manifests itself in so many forms. It needs to come out somehow or it destroys you in some way.