Quotes About Influence

In my case, both my grandmothers made a huge impact on my early childhood days. But, as I grew older, people rarely made an impact or influenced me.

I do think some older people in the gay community could be better influencers for gay youth, better educators. I made it a point to be that person.

I come from quite a heavy matriarchal family, and my older sister was a huge influence on me.

Aaliyah has been an artist I've grown up with, like an older sister.

I've always liked women more. I was brought up by my mother and older sister. I found my way into dance class.

I do read a lot of autobiographies and biographies but from people who are not in my field - older women, older artists, Miles Davis.

I grew up with 2 older brothers, the oldest of which was big into film. Hanging around him got me seeing so much good stuff at an early age. Maybe a 10-year-old should not be watching 'Boyz N the Hood' like 10 times in a row? I don't know. But it probably shaped me in some way.

It's the oldest story in human existence. We've colonized someone or been colonized throughout human history. It's amazing how fast we comply and try to get a life out of that.

I met all my heroes on the oldies circuit: Gary U.S. Bonds, Lloyd Price, Little Richard.

When I was 6, 7 years old, I was raised on all the old-school stuff. My momma used to play oldies in the house. That's all my momma used to play around the house was oldies.

I really listened to a lot of oldies. I didn't really listen to anything that was modern until I was 11 or 12.

I listen to a lot of oldies stuff. Some Motown, Michael Jackson, jazz, etc.

When I was in college in the late 80s-early 90s, there was a sense that history was on a straight path toward democracy everywhere. Well, that's not true. It was also not true that there's a single era of oligarchy, because we showed we could do something about it.

I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened to everything I could that came from that place that they call the blues but, in formality, isn't necessarily the blues.

Jamie Oliver's books are the best. I love Jamie. Bless him!

People say I'm like a cross between Jamie Oliver, Russell Brand and Mr Motivator.

I think that Jamie Oliver did more good for the nation's cooking when he was just cooking than by telling us what chickens we should eat.

If there's any indirect way I can motivate or inspire Olympic athletes... that is one of the greatest honors. Even Natalie Coughlin saying that I inspired her. I'm so humbled by that. I think that's amazing.

Growing up I definitely looked up to Dominique Moceanu. She was my favorite gymnast and she was on that '96 Olympic team. She was always so fun to watch. I kind of wanted to model my career after hers.

I'm a two-time Olympian, but ever since I was a little girl, the Olympic dream has influenced me.

I was like, 'I don't know if I could be an Olympian...' But my dad really influenced me to stay and be in the Olympics.

The Exorcist doesn't get me, but The Omen does.

Leaders are important but not omnipotent.

The things I have to say on and off the record are important, and I say them because I want to be heard.