Venus Williams Quotes

Anybody who has gone through a life-changing experience will tell you there is a different understanding of what is real and what is important, and when you are going through different moments, you can reflect and go, 'I have been through worse.'

If I have known much trouble in my youth, I have also known much joy.

I look at old photos of me, and I don't feel connected to them at all. I would never wish my upbringing on anyone... but I wouldn't take it back for the world.

My advice would be not to write until after 35. You need some experience, and for life to knock you about a bit. Growing up is so hard you probably won't have much emotion to spare anyway.

I grew up in Inglewood, L.A., and South Central. I was always humbled by my situation. I would go on set and come home to my neighborhood and my block to my friends, and it would be a whole other story.

I've been lucky and I recognize that, but I haven't lost sight of that girl I was.

You don't forget where you came from. I came from nothing. I was in Marseille in a bad area. We didn't have anything. We were rich in love.

I learned that my upbringing was rough, but there's other people out there where their upbringing is even worse than mine. It just gives you even more of a reason to want to help.

I never shy away from my childhood and where I was raised because it made me who I am today.

I grew up in a very simple home, a very simple background, and to be able to do what I'm able to do today, I'm very honored. I don't think I'll ever lose that perspective, and I don't want to.

In a funny way, when things went wrong in my life - and it is my fault that they went wrong, it is not anyone else's fault - and all the glittering outside things were taken away, I was left with the things of most value.

I've experienced poverty and plenty, and there's a lesson to be learned when you're brought up in poverty.

Cancer has given me a dose of humility. I'm much more empathetic. It's a club I would rather not have joined, but it is a club.

I grew up very modest, and I never forget that.

I'm not allowed to get a big head, I've still got to do the simple things in life.

You live your life day by day and find ways to get through it. You grow up through things that are challenging and you find the joy. You realize there are so many people that have it much worse and remind yourself. I have been very blessed.

I haven't forgotten where I came from.

It is very important as a human being to be able to laugh at yourself and circumstances and particularly as a Christian. We have to know that good times don't last always and bad times don't last always.

My confidence came from the way I grew up, and I'm grateful for it.

I'm thankful I grew up the way I did. It made me a hard worker and insightful to other people's lives.

As a child, I didn't know what I didn't have. I'm thankful for the challenges early on in my life because now I have a perspective on the world and kind of know what's important.

I really have paid my dues. When I get to stay in fancy hotel suites these days, I remind myself of that.

It's always healthy to be taken down a notch, even though it's humbling.

I will always be looking back at the things I've gone through, thinking of the struggling people I've seen.

I didn't lead a very wise life, myself, but it was a full one and a grown-up one. You come of age very quickly through shipwreck and disaster.