Hans Christian Andersen Quotes

The reason why we're warriors is that we rise to the occasion; anyone that's felt like the system put them down, and then they rose to the occasion, they're a warrior. It's not about whether you come from the hood or you come from the suburbs, you know what I mean? It's about reality and life.

Sometimes you do have to bank on yourself. You do have to believe in your ideas enough to really get out there and fight for it despite what people think of some young kids from the hood.

I was raised to sense what someone wanted me to be and be that kind of person. It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes.

I became a writer in spite of my environments.

I was always told that I was too small, too skinny, too slow, not tough enough, and I never ever believed what people told me.

I don't think a name defines the core of who you are.

I think I would have died if there hadn't been the women's movement. It gave me a vision that I could do something different, and it gave me an understanding that I wasn't a monster, or sport, or a betrayer of my family.

My books are about ordinary people placed in extraordinary situations who are able to draw upon their inner reserves to challenge the status-quo in life and navigate compelling human relationships.

The spirit is there in every boy; it has to be discovered and brought to light.

I understood that I am a lot bigger than what I do, that I have a bigger potential.

Growing up, when I was younger, I didn't feel all that tough or smart or strong. As I got older, I was able to discover my own strength.

I'm just a genetic freak, but it has never stopped me from doing whatever I want to.

It just doesn't go with my story to be a first round pick, because I had to grind my whole life.

I grew up having to do manual labor because people always told me that I was an ugly girl. I've never had the permission to be myself except for when I'm doing manual labor. Because in manual labor, it's about, 'Can you pick this up, can you move this here,' and I could.

I wanted to prove I wasn't that person everyone wanted to stereotype me. You can slag me off, I talk about my upbringing now and try and do it in a way that inspires others, but I never felt good about it.

Who can't relate to a story of a dreamer who, against all odds, is going to make something of himself that is completely unexpected?

I've been an underdog my whole life with the shape that I have and the way that I look. But once I get in the ring it's a whole different ball game.

What I have inside of me is more powerful than anything the world could ever offer me.

I circumnavigated the globe while I was sitting in a prison. It was wonderful because I kept defeating those walls they put around me.

I was rejected by every agent in Australia when I was starting out. No one would represent me, because I didn't fit into a particular box, and I wasn't a trained musician or performer, but history has perhaps proven that perhaps I have something to give.

I had nothing - I come from nothing - but I am something, and I will continue to be something.

You are far, far greater than you know - and all is well.

You have to be your own person. You can't let people's opinions determine how you think about yourself. There's a difference between identity and self-identity.

…we’re all beautiful golden sunflowers inside, we’re all blessed by our own seed & golden hairy naked accomplishment (Sunflower Sutra)

We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly enlightened or peaceful or intelligent. Nevertheless, we have soil good enough to cultivate; we can plant anything in it.