“You need to keep something for yourself. As a writer, I feel that even...” — Tracy Chapman Quote

“You need to keep something for yourself. As a writer, I feel that even more strongly. I feel like I need to be able to freely observe the world. That's the way I like to move through the world; I don't need to be the focus of attention. If I am, it impairs my ability to write and to do what I do.”

“I think religion played a huge part in Bush's re-election.”

“I had a ukulele when I was much younger. I have no idea what happened to it but I think that was part of it, just being inspired and wanting to try to play an instrument that, to me, sounded beautiful.”

“There have been some gains made in terms of more equality for women in the workplace and in the way the legal system deals with issues of violence against women.”

“I decided to do whatever I could to make sure the business side of music didn't intrude on the creative part.”

“When you feel like you've had a good show, you go backstage and you talk to yourself about it, and if you have a bad show you talk to yourself about it.”

“Knowledge is death in my experience. The more I know about film, the harder it is to create freely.”

“We respect every religion. Everyone is free to practice his religion freely... In the Tunisian parliament, we have even Jews.”

“Everybody should be able to speak freely on what they believe.”

“Muslims in France should be able to practice their religion freely and safely.”

“How can we think we are protected if terrorists can move around freely, if weapons can circulate freely?”

“I think having the cancer allowed me to be able to freely talk about my faith.”