The struggle of my life created empathy - I could relate to pain, being abandoned, having people not love me.

• I don't think of myself as a poor deprived ghetto girl who made good. I think of myself as somebody who from an early age knew I was responsible for myself, and I had to make good.
• Books were my pass to personal freedom. I learned to read at age three, and soon discovered there was a whole world to conquer that went beyond our farm in Mississippi.
• The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.
• As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.
• Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.
• My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you I the best place for the next moment.
• Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.
• I was raised to believe that excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism. And that's how I operate my life.
• The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
• The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.