Quotes from Whoopi Goldberg

Most of all, I dislike this idea nowadays that if you're a black person in America, then you must be called African-American. Listen, I've visited Africa, and I've got news for everyone: I'm not an African.

When I started, I knew I didn't fit any visual that anyone was going to lie down and take their clothes off about. Work doesn't come to me; I go out and look for it.

If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers.

You've got to vote for someone. It's a shame, but it's got to be done.

For some reason, all artists have self-esteem issues.

When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they'll remember and be kind to someone else. And it'll become like a wildfire.

I don't have pet peeves I have whole kennels of irritation.

I used my imagination to make the grass whatever color I wanted it to be.

It's being willing to walk away that gives you strength and power - if you're willing to accept the consequences of doing what you want to do.

Sitting at the table during Color Purple and looking up and suddenly realizing I was acting in front of Steven Spielberg, was pretty cool. It was pretty good.

I'm fighting the label of 'Black' actress simply because it's very limiting in people's eyes, especially people who are making movies.

You know, be an actor because you love to act. Don't be an actor because you think you're going to get famous, because that's luck.

We're born with success. It is only others who point out our failures, and what they attribute to us as failure.

When I was doing ensemble theater and comedy work, I felt I had some talents. But when I started doing my shows in Berkeley and found that I could be funny on my own, I was shocked.

I think the idea that you know who your inner self is on a daily basis, because... you know. What's good for you 25 years ago may not be good for you now. So, to keep in touch with that, I think that's the first ingredient for success. Because if you're a successful human being, everything else is gravy, I think.

I'm much happier on my own. I can spend as much time with somebody as I want to spend, but I'm not looking to be with somebody forever or live with someone. I don't want somebody in my house.

That's why I'll never run for office. Because you have to be too clean. I am not clean. I've had a lot of mud. Forget the skeletons, I've got the mud. And, know what? I don't want to have to explain me to anybody.

Art is long, life is short. Unless your funding is f%$ked, in which case all our days are numbered.

Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine.

I dig being a mother.

That's the thing about Mother Nature, she really doesn't care what economic bracket you're in.

I don't have pet peeves like some people. I have whole kennels of irritation.

My mother's great. She has the major looks. She could stop you from doing anything, through a closed door even, with a single look. Without saying a word, she has that power to rip out your tonsils.

Thank you, God, because I am lucky. Also let's face it, it turns out I'm black. And I'm having a career quite different from lots of people, so I feel doubly lucky.