Quotes from Mary J. Blige

I truly enjoy Bono. I think he is an amazing person I love him.

I can't just make a song people can dance in a club to... it still has to be real.

I started speaking about what I was dealing with through my music, and 4 million women responded and said, 'Us too, Mary.' And I didn't know that everyone was hurting like I was hurting. I had no idea.

From being a little girl in the projects, going through all of the mess that I was going through, to ending up at the Inauguration for the first African-American president, I'm speechless right now because I never thought I'd - I never ever - I couldn't even see that far. Even when I ended up in the music business, I couldn't see that.

When you come from so many damaged places you don't ever want to spiral back there, so you gotta continue to check yourself.

When you hold on to anger and unforgiveness, you can't move forward.

My journey continues, because I've, you know, conquered a lot. And I know how to conquer the rest.

If we didn't have understanding of our journey, we wouldn't be able to go on. We'd be stuck, like, 'Why me?'

Really, every woman is an example to me, because as women we go through so much pain. We have to live this perfect life when we are messed up inside. We all go through trials and tribulations.

When you finally understand who you are, ages 6 through 60 will understand who you are. Because when they see a person that's come through all that I've come through, still standing, it's amazing.

I like hanging out with me, and I've accepted everything about me good, bad whatever it is. That's why I'm able to, that's why no one can tell me anything negative about myself.

In the inner city, there's a mentality that the government owes you something. My breakthrough came when I stopped feeling sorry for myself and took responsibility for every part of my life. No more pity parties. I've gotta love me more than anybody else loves me.

I just want fans to walk away knowing that no matter what's going on, no matter how happy you are, no matter how sad you are, we did it. We're strong in this. We've come a long way, and life is not just one thing.

As a kid, I dreamed about being onstage.

I'm striving toward this acting thing. I'm definitely gonna work hard on that, whatever comes my way, I'm gonna work hard on it.

I don't listen to people's opinions. I have people around me who I can trust, but most of all I listen to myself.

If I'm going to be the best in what I do, I have to study what I'm doing, I have to see what I'm doing. I have to see it, I have to hear it. I'm just starting to appreciate myself - not starting, but appreciating myself in a way where I can look at myself back in a movie or listen to myself as much as I do now.

It hurts when you have to smile and you don't want to smile, but the best thing to do is to smile.

I decided to start my own label because so many people with talent come to me wanting to know how they can get in the music business.

Just don't let the hype of what people are saying and how much they love you, y'know, just take the compliment and be thankful that people are complimenting you, but don't let it consume you; don't let your circumstances around you and the way people view you make you act a certain way.

I've learned so much from all my mistakes. I just wish I had gotten my education.

Working in the studio is a more personal experience whereas on stage in front of a billion people, its more exciting performing live.

I wish I had an extra day with my mom sometimes. Or another hour in the day with my family, husband and children.

Negative words are powerful boomerangs so be careful what you say about people and yourself.