Alicia Keys

Only a woman can breathe under the water of life defying gravity and staying zen while doing it.

I love learning about different religions, and discovering the different ways to worship, and to love the greatness and the higher being that surrounds us all. I definitely believe in a bigger presence, and I really respect all religions; at their core they all teach the same message – community and kindness and looking out for each other.

How incredible our ancestors were. The first astrophysicists, scientists, physicians, mathematicians, architects, creators of so much of the world as we know it. It’s a blessing to know what cloth you’re cut from!

I feel like….Music is the – it’s the answer. It’s the reason.

What I’m learning is that there is so much to unlearn.

Musicians have a really big part to play in spreading messages because they’re able to reach a large portion of people on an emotional level. Artists reach people at their heart; it’s the only time we meet in one place and put our differences aside. When you’re in a forum listening to music, all you feel in that moment is love and the understanding.

If we don’t teach our young girls to speak at an early age, that doesn’t just happen.

Women have been trained to speak softly and carry a lipstick. Those days are over.

My first instinct is great pride for all of us as women who are finding our voices.

Girls should never be afraid to be smart.

I wouldn’t say I’m a feminist. I think that would be, maybe, going too far.

It’s about being alive and feisty and not sitting down and shutting up. Even if people would like you to.

[My father] always reminded us that it was important to stand up for your rights, and regardless of who you are and where you come from, to hold your head up high with dignity and respect.

I was subscribing to this sick identity. … Stay in your place, be feminine, be a lady, don’t make too much noise.

We won’t unlock opportunities for young women and girls unless we can change the mindset of every family and community. To achieve this, it cannot just be women who speak up for girls.

Being a strong woman is very important to me. But doing it all on my own is not.

The best thing you can do is to be a woman and stand before the world and speak your heart.

I love to challenge the status quo. That’s been my mission from day one as an actress and an early feminist wanting equality and wanting to push the limits of what’s possible.

The sadness of the women’s movement is that they don’t allow the necessity of love. See, I don’t personally trust any revolution where love is not allowed.

It’s pretty clear that if men were having babies we’d have different policies.

If we are going to see real development in the world then our best investment is women.