Quotes About Authenticity

If you can't relax during your interview, then nothing you do to prepare will matter. Being yourself is essential to the selection process, and interviewers will feel it if you're too nervous. Showing fear or anxiety appears weak compared to a relaxed smile and genuine confidence.

I keep getting asked how I write about such smart, strong women, and my response is, what's the alternative? Weak, stupid women? They're just normal people, not role models - if you're aspiring to be like any of them, something's a little bit wrong. You may want to dress like one or have her job, but do not aspire to be her!

It's the African-American experience. You've got to wear different masks. When you're in the hood, if you stand out, you get picked on for being weak. Sometimes you have to hide your intelligence. In front of your boys, you might put on a bit of bravado, be a little bit tougher.

The way I look at it, I'm more of a man because I'm in touch with my emotions. I think people that deny their emotions are pretty weak individuals, if you want my honest opinion.

I'm not a hustler. I don't pitch songs. I don't ask people to write with me. It's not what I do.

I am how I am. I cannot explain it well, but I don't feel the nicest person, on the football pitch or in life, I'm just myself.

It's really hard to write personal songs. I'm not good at writing ditties because as far as writing hit songs that you pitch to the national artist, I just don't write that way.

I prefer to be favourites on the pitch; not with words.

I do need to focus on playing my football and what's happening on the pitch rather than off it... I want to be myself and not think about it.

People have always found me challenging - I don't know why, when I am only being myself. I don't understand why they find me so annoying but they do. It is pity, but that is how it is.

I think what women think is sexy is what is sexy. Girls eating pizza are massively sexy.

I went to Naples to work with one of the best pizza-makers in the world, and guess how long he bakes his pizzas for? He bakes them for 45 seconds. In and out. And they're incredible. Any more than that, and it's no longer considered a pizza. I've been spouting off to people for years - six minutes in an oven.

I just love country. It just felt like that's the place to go and live life.

The 'Aldous Harding' record isn't easily placed because it wasn't trying to sound like anything. It was quite organic.

When people get placed upon a pedestal - when they start chasing after that person on the pedestal - they become mannequin-like.

A lot of people think that they are leaders just because they have been placed in charge of something - and you're not.

Growing up, I've always made a point to not be placed in a box.

A song cannot be a gimmick as it requires talent and hard work. But if it is placed wrongly, then it can be called that way.

The gym is one of the few places where I can just be myself without any hindrances and inhibitions.

Every African-American I know has two faces. There's the face that we have for ourselves and the face we put on for white America for the places we have to get to.

Get off the beaten path... If you want to find those mom-and-pop joints, those funky little places, just ask around.

I am happy everywhere except in places where I see glitz and rich farts. I am happiest in Brooklyn, where the concentration of rich farts is minimal.

It becomes very easy as an actor to immerse yourself when you're in the real places.

In many ways, it is very real, because I sat there for 9 days, and it was constantly happening, and that was the 9 days of making the film. But you can't say that it's 100% true, because there are places where I've been intrusive and interfered.