Lauryn Hill

We have to make sure the music and the message and the words and all the elements come through in our songs and every time we appear in public.

Let optimists rule the world.

The danger I faced was not accepted as reasonable grounds for deferring my tax payments, as authorities, who despite being told all of this, still chose to pursue action against me, as opposed to finding an alternative solution.

I think what people are attracted to about me, if anything, is my passion. People got exposed to my passion through music and song first.

I'm trying to open up my range and really sing more. With The Fugees initially, and even with 'Miseducation,' it was very hip-hop - always a singing over beats. I don't think people have really heard me sing out. So if I do record again, perhaps it will have an expanded context. Where people can hear a bit more.

You don't know how much artists go through to make it look so easy. It's all in the practice.

What was freely given to me, I freely give.

The less I have, the freer I am to do whatever I want to do.

Real religion is no religion at all.

Nobody's going to force me to do something against my will. What do I owe anybody that I should submit my will to them?

I tried to manipulate and control people, and I harbored resentment. I wanted to be forgiven, but I wouldn't forgive others.

I need to be surrounded by people as passionate and as dedicated as I am.

I don't know anybody that's not emotionally unstable or schizophrenic.

We don't want people to have expectations of us, but then we have expectations of everybody else.

I had to confront my fears and master my every demonic thought about inferiority, insecurity, or the fear of being black, young, and gifted in this Western culture.

When I was working, and when I was making substantial amounts of money, I always filed and paid my taxes. This only stopped, when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of myself and my family.

I never did anything I'm really ashamed of.

Over-commercialization and its resulting restrictions and limitations can be very damaging and distorting to the inherent nature of the individual. I did not deliberately abandon my fans, nor did I deliberately abandon any responsibilities.

When I have a creative insight, there is a high. I think back in the day, I made music as much as I did because it made me feel so good. I think you could argue that there is a creative addiction - but, you know, the healthy kind.

Since those who believe they need a hero/celebrity outnumber the actual heroes/celebrities, people feel safe and comfortably justified in numbers, committing egregious crimes in the name of the greater social ego. Ironically diminishing their own true hero-celebrity nature in the process.