Jay-Z Quotes

It's something my mother believed in: If you are in a position of privilege, if you can put your name to something that you genuinely believe in, you can smash any stigma you want, and you can encourage anybody to do anything.

I want to get involved in things that makes a difference in peoples lives and lifts them up. I don't want to be a part of anything that's not inspiring or helpful to the community that I'm serving.

Growing up with my father's legacy, we never felt that we had to do anything, but we were always raised to think: What could be better than to explore the wonders of the world and share that with people? To try and make the world a better place. And I guess it stuck.

I love to utilize my celebrity status in a responsible and constructive and substantive manner. I like to get my hands dirty rather than a photo op.

Some people are embarrassed to say they came from East St. Louis, Ill., but now more people want to claim it. I grew up in a community center and I knew what it gave me. I always knew I wanted to give back and help people because people helped me.

I believe that if you have revolutionary potential, you must make the world a better place and use it.

It always feels good to be a part of something you think could actually impact human beings.

I would love to do really great work and for women who are marginalised to see me as an inspiration.

Children can change the world.

Putting a smile on kids, putting a smile on families' faces, changing people's lives with your so-called status and celebrity with your so-called impact, that's reality.

I always said that if I had the platform and the opportunity to share my story and make it easier for others, I would - so that, in a way, I can be the role model that I was looking for as a kid.

I just really felt I had to help the community I came from. I know how hard it is to make it out of here.

I want to make a difference with people who want to make a difference, doing something that makes a difference.

I don't think you have to go out and become Secretary of State or be Bono but I think it's to let people know that whatever they do in their life that that's good.

That would be great if I could be a role model or inspiration to those who have been in my shoes before.

Any time you can have an impact on anybody's life in a positive direction, to bring happiness to the community or a certain group of people, you don't take that lightly as a team, as a player.

I think things will work out for the greater good for not only me but the city of Pittsburgh. I'm extremely grateful to get out in the community of Pittsburgh and not only play the game but affect other people and kids in that regard, and I'm excited about the whole process of that.

The mantra I grew up with was that no matter where you came from, hard work and education could set you free.

Every time a young girl comes in and asks me for advice, if you start your conversation with, 'How hard is it as a black woman,' or, 'How hard is it as a woman,' I turn you around. Because I cannot - we cannot look at the roadblocks and see the road at the same time.

I've always felt like I'm Asia: I'm the first me and I'm the first Asia that's going to walk into the room, and I'm here to change the game. That's part of who I am.

A lot of those young folks look up to me in the city of Houston. I give hope and inspiration and try to change people's lives for the better in the city of Houston.

I always say I want to leave this world in a better state than when I arrived, and I continue to live by that message. So I'm going to do what I can to make the world a better place but also just make sure that I'm happy as well.

I just feel like it's a blessing to be able to represent Compton.

You don't have to be a leader of a big organization. You can be a leader of your brother, of a young kid, of your community. That way you affect life, someway, somehow.

Our credo says that, in the end, we want to drive positive change in the lives of our stakeholders and communities across the world, enabling them to rise.