Tionne Watkins Quotes

Writing so that I can act became a way of having not more control over my future but not having to wait for permission. You can choose yourself. Hmm, who should play this part? I nominate me!

Regardless of anything, I'm gonna write my own story and my own ending.

On my very first show, my partners in it, Oprah Winfrey and her network, and studio, Warner Horizon, who doesn't get enough credit, said, "Lady, we're going to let you call the shots the way you want to."

Become the director, producer, choreographer of your own story

It's nice of guys to actually want to even pick my brain a little bit.

Control your own destiny! Control your own destiny!

Honestly, the thing that I have found to be most useful over a long career, or maintaining a long career, is taking back the power at some point and self-producing.

I think it seems to be when I'm trusted, and someone just lets me have free rein - 'Do what you want, man' - that kind of confidence that directors instil in me always gets my best stuff out.

What I love about California is this attitude of being supportive and positive about things. When you tell someone your idea, the answer is: 'Great, how can I help?' not 'Well that's not going to work.'

I want everything that I've worked for to go into my pocket. I want all my money to come to me. I'm very much hands-on with my career, and I like to do what I want in the studio - I don't like being told, 'do it this way' or 'do it that way.'

I'm glad that in this sport you can write your own stories, and you don't have to worry about what other people expect out of you.

I don't feel like my life happens to me. I feel like I happen to my life. I feel that I'm in the driver's seat.

The coaches are there to bounce ideas off and stuff, but at the end of the day, they let us be us. We make our match, and we do 'us', you know what I mean?

You don't ever have to feel pushed into anything.

I've always been a guy that liked to stay in control of my own destiny.

I am trying to be true to the work that I want to do and be allowed to make the choices that I want to make.

Life doesn't just happen. You happen to life. You decide how you want to write your story.

If you give young people enough information, they'll figure out what to do with it. They just need a little guidance.

What the myths say, is that you have to be the hero of your own life. You're the one who has to take charge of who you are, you're the one who has to take control. And also, you're the one who can bring something to the community.

I think that is the ultimate cowardice, when someone makes your choices for you in an institutional way. And you just say, "Well, I have no other option."

Life is to live it, not to let it live you.

I think I'm in control of what I do and what I've done. I think that's the ultimate feminine power. Do as you want.

We need to be the authors of our own life.

I'm coming to believe that there are two kinds of people... those who choose to be masters of their own fate and those who wait in chairs while other dance. I would rather be one of the former than the latter.

Clint Eastwood expects you to know what you're doing. He's going to take two giant steps back and let you do it. I have such appreciation for that part of him.