Ethel Waters

When you dominate other people's emotions, the time has to come when you will have to pay, and heavily, for that privilege.

I am an isolationist.

There was one emotional outlet my people always had when they had the blues. That was singing.

Hollywood is a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul.

It took me realizing that a broken heart has never actually killed anyone to find the courage to ask for what I want, in just about every situation. That was part of my own growing up.

I didn't want to be famous. I just wanted to earn enough money to have a nice life and enjoy acting.