Quotes by Jill Scott

“God is ever present. Hes in every breath, in every step. Hes here, always, always.”

“Im looking at the head of the household, and the house hasnt been run properly for a long time, ... Clinton was the first person ever to make a formal apology to black people for slavery, which was very warm and appreciated. But African-Americans havent healed at all . The wound is still very open. And seeing the differences in how people live, it just puts salt in it- constantly . Seeing the way were treated within these United States ... it burns you even more every day.”

“Who Is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds Vol. 1,”

“First, it was shock, ... Then depression, and then anger. There were newscasters saying, ‘Youve got to get out of here, everybody has to go now, but nobody thought about the people who didnt have cars. And nobody came to help. Nobody brought food ... the system broke apart.”

I see myself being a great-grandmother at my great-grandsons graduation from a school that has my name on it.

When I first became famous, I didnt know if I could go where I wanted to because I didnt know how people were going to act. Some folks would scream and holler, and I didnt know what to do with that.

People is, I think, its their nature - some peoples nature, in a way, to be angry or jealous or just spiteful about somebody elses blessings.

As slavery died for the greater good of America, and the movement for equality sputtered to life, the white woman was on the cover of every American magazine. She was the dazzling jewel on every movie screen, the glory of every commercial and television show.

Soul music is about longevity and reaching and touching people on a human level - and thats never going to get lost.

Heartbreak was the impetus to me writing poems and music in the first place. Over the years, I had my heart broken so badly that if I didnt find a way to get all the pain out, I was going to lose my mind. I was crazy! Like, wanting to slash tires and smash car windows. Crazy! I was so hurt that I had to write.

At my aunts funeral, I promised myself that I wouldnt be bound by the belief that Im supposed to stay in anything - whether its a relationship, a job, a house, or a circumstance - if it makes me miserable. She gave me the courage to find my own happiness.

I chose No. 1 Ladies Detective, or Ill say it chose me, and it was an absolute blessing, for the experience of being in Africa for seven months and learning so many different things, from languages to foods to greetings. On so many levels, it was an incredible experience.

Im going to do as much as I can with this life, and then Im going to make sure to take some time off and be simple and ride my bike and hang out with friends.

I truly loved being pregnant and feeling what was going on inside my body and watching it change. Its difficult to recoup, but still amazing nonetheless. I would have another one.

Being a mom, it feels like I did something so powerful and amazing. Its such a gigantic blessing, and a confirmation that the Creator exists. And all of that has made me feel sexier and stronger. I call it lava in my spine.

My earliest influence was Quincy Jones. I thought The Wiz soundtrack was the most amazing thing Id ever heard. It was my first record and you had Michael Jackson, Ted Ross, Nipsey Russell and Diana Ross on it. I even took it to show and tell in third grade!

Our minds do understand that people of all races find genuine love in many places. We dig that the world is full of amazing options.

There are repercussions to everything, even advancement and success. And I think that the repercussions to my success was the loss of my marriage.

Ive learned that friendship does not equate business, business does not equate friendship.

I think the first time I really heard poetry was in the schoolyard. Just the little limericks that kids say when theyre jumping rope and playing games. I think thats the first time I heard rhyming words - I dont know if Id call that the definitive poetry, but thats when I heard rhyming words said and not necessarily sung.