Mary J. Blige

"I've just been growing right along. It's painful, but it's a great pain, and I like suffering for great results. It's like going to the gym. It hurts really bad at first, but after a couple of months and after that diet, you're looking so hot."

"When I was a child I didn't care about getting an education, and I didn't finish high school."

"It was only for two years, and I jumped from family to family. It's very scary."

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

"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 do consider myself part of black history."