Richard Pryor

"I have never seen a truly authentic autobiography."

"Never go backward. Attempt to maintain only what is important to maintain."

"The funniest people are the ones that are real."

"I think my material is very much connected to the moment and the world as it happens."

"You have to take care of yourself before you take care of anyone else."

"I've survived a lot in my life and I want to keep that going."

"I want to be a comedian because comedians are the most honest people in the world."

"If something is wrong, don't just accept it. Do something about it."

"I like to work. I like to do things that are challenging."

"The most important thing is that you believe in what you're doing."

"I dream about things that could be. It's not about money."

"I'm from Peoria, and I'm proud of that."

"I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific."

"You have to be aware of people around you and what you're doing."

"I've been everywhere, man. I've been to every state."

"I think about dying but I don't want to die."

"I just keep moving forward. That's all I know how to do."

"When people accept you, that's the best feeling in the world."

"I've got to be in control of what I do."

"The real deal is to be yourself."

"I like to interact with people and make them laugh."

"I'm not trying to entertain people. I'm trying to tell the truth."

"I didn't invent comedy. Comedy existed before me."

"You have to be strong enough to face reality."

"I believe in myself. That's what has gotten me this far."

"I'm nobody's fool. I know what I'm doing."

"The audience is the most important thing to me."

"I want to make people think and laugh at the same time."

"If you're not growing, you're dying."

"I love my family more than anything in this world."