Richard Pryor

"I paid for my knowledge in blood, sweat, and tears."

"Happiness is a choice, not a destination."

"You can't change other people; you can only change how you respond to them."

"The only freedom that matters is the freedom to be yourself."

"I learned that peace comes from acceptance, not resistance."

"Nature doesn't care about your problems. It just keeps going."

"Every artist is just trying to make sense of their pain."

"Science is just systematic observation of what's already here."

"I never wanted to be famous. I just wanted to be free."

"The most honest people are the ones who've already hit bottom."

"Motivation is internal. Nobody can give it to you."

"I succeeded because I was willing to fail publicly."

"The key to longevity is knowing when to quit."

"I've been broken and rebuilt so many times, I'm stronger now."

"Laughter is the best medicine because it lets you escape for a moment."

"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you angry."

"I learned that being human means being flawed."

"Inspiration comes when you stop waiting for it and start living."

"I went to Zimbabwe. I know how white people feel in America now; relaxed! I can relax now."

"You know, it's not the world that was my oppressor. It was my mind."

"I'm not addicted to cocaine, I just love the way it smells."

"I realized that comedians of the future wouldn't have to work as hard as me because I opened doors for them."

"The instrument I use is my mind and my body, that's it."

"I think the reason I'm popular is because I'm an honest performer."

"People see you as an object, not as a person. That's the thing I hate."

"I wanted to be an actor, a real actor, doing all kinds of roles."

"When you're an artist, you need to prove yourself over and over."

"I believe in being very honest in my work."

"Money doesn't mean anything to me. I've made a lot of money."

"The key to a good show is the audience and the performer working together."