Top 88 Most Inspiring Aretha Franklin Quotes (LOVE)

Top 18 Most Famous Aretha Franklin Quotes (BEST)

Every person has their own destiny, their own path to walk. Embrace your uniqueness and follow your own journey. — Every person has their own **destiny**, their own path to walk. Embrace your uniqueness and follow your own **journey**.

Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it. — Be your own artist, and always be **confident** in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it.

Music has the power to heal, to bring people together, and to inspire change. It's a universal language that transcends boundaries and touches the soul. — **Music** has the power to **heal**, to bring people together, and to **inspire** change. It’s a universal language that transcends boundaries and touches the soul.

Don't wait for someone else to validate your worth. You are enough just as you are. Believe in yourself and your talents, and never be afraid to pursue your dreams. — Don’t wait for someone else to validate your worth. You are enough just as you are. **Believe** in yourself and your **talents**, and never be afraid to pursue your **dreams**.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. Keep striving, keep learning, and keep growing, no matter your age or circumstances. — You are never too old to set another **goal** or to dream a new dream. Keep striving, keep **learning**, and keep **growing**, no matter your age or circumstances.

Respect yourself and demand respect from others. Stand up for what you believe in, and never settle for anything less than you deserve. — **Respect** yourself and demand respect from others. Stand up for what you **believe** in, and never settle for anything less than you deserve.

Sometimes, what you're looking for is already there. — Sometimes, what you’re looking for is already there.

Music changes, and I'm gonna change right along with it. — **Music** changes, and I’m gonna **change** right along with it.

You can't copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you're working without any real feeling. — You can’t copy anybody and end with anything. If you copy, it means you’re working without any real feeling.

I'm a soul singer, and a good soul singer doesn't need to fake it. — I’m a soul singer, and a good soul singer doesn’t need to fake it.

I don't know who's gonna kiss you when I'm gone, so I'm gonna love you now like it's all I have. — I don’t know who’s gonna kiss you when I’m gone, so I’m gonna **love** you now like it’s all I have.

Who hasn’t had a weight issue If not the body, certainly the big head! — Who hasn’t had a weight issue? If not the body, certainly the big head!

I still don’t think I would do anything else. I guess I could’ve been a prima ballerina. Or a nurse. Aretha Nightingale!

I've always felt that rock & roll was very, very wholesome. — I’ve always felt that rock & roll was very, very wholesome.

Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift.

People really don’t have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you. — People really don’t have to give you anything, so **appreciate** what people give you.

It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I've done my job. — It really is an **honor** if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I’ve done my job.

Soul is a constant. It’s cultural. It’s always going to be there, in different flavors and degrees.

8 Thought-Provoking Aretha Franklin Quotes

“You cannot define a person on just one thing. You can’t just forget all these wonderful and good things that a person has done because one thing didn’t come off the way you thought it should come off.”
Aretha Franklin

I've met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye! — I’ve met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my **intelligence** with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye!

Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don't, it hurts even more. — Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to **learn** from them, and when you don’t, it hurts even more.

“I’ve been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well.”
Aretha Franklin

It’s the rough side of the mountain that’s the easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn’t have anything for you to hang on to.

Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home. — **Parents** have to really talk to their **children** before they leave home.

“There were certain restaurants that I could not eat at. We bought groceries then ate them in the car. When we’d stop to get gas we had to go to certain gas stations because we could not use the restrooms at all of them. We could only use the ones at Gulf. We’ve come a long way. Because of Dr. King and the civil rights movement, my life is forever changed.”
Aretha Franklin

I don't feel one's personal medical condition is everybody's business. It just isn't something you advertise, and it's not open to discussion. — I don’t feel one’s personal medical condition is everybody’s business. It just isn’t something you advertise, and it’s not open to discussion.

6 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Respect

We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right. — We all require and want **respect**, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right.

I think women and children and older people are the three least-respected groups in our society.

I think it would be a far greater world if people were kinder and more respectful to each other.

Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three-year-old's would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms. — Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three-year-old’s would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms.

If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how in the world do you think everybody’s supposed to respect you?

4 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Love

Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off. — Falling out of **love** is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off.

The love of my life I’m much too young to answer that question. — The love of my life? I’m much too young to answer that question.

The man who gets me is getting one hell of a woman.

I'm really an old-fashioned girl - I like to be romanced. — I’m really an old-fashioned girl – I like to be romanced.

10 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Music

“Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”
Aretha Franklin

In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal - universal and transporting. — In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal – universal and transporting.

As long as it's good music. I love all music. It's got to be constructed properly. — As long as it’s good music. I love all music. It’s got to be constructed properly.

“If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about.”
Aretha Franklin

I like writing and don't confine myself to just the words or just the music. But I don't particularly write songs with myself in mind. — I like **writing** and don’t confine myself to just the words or just the music. But I don’t particularly write songs with myself in mind.

I really don't have any shelf music. — I really don’t have any shelf music.

“My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me.”
Aretha Franklin

I'm never tired of going to the studio. I enjoy recording and documenting everything and trying new things. — I’m never tired of going to the studio. I enjoy recording and documenting everything and trying new things.

“‘Rocking With Leroy’ used to come on when I would come in from school. It was a very, very big R&B broadcast of the day when I was a young girl. And I would come in and put my books down, lie down on the floor, and listen to ‘Rocking With Leroy.’.”
Aretha Franklin

12 Aretha Franklin Quotes on Singing and Performing

“I sing to the realists, people who accept it like it is. I express problems. There are tears when it’s sad and smiles when it’s happy. It seems simple to me, but for some people, I guess feelin’ takes courage.”
Aretha Franklin

It’s hard. When you love food, and when you’ve done a high-energy concert, you know, a carrot is not gonna work.

I’ve never recorded anything I didn’t like.

“Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.”
Aretha Franklin

I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It’s very, very gratifying. — I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you **prepare** for them. It’s very, very gratifying.

Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that. — Being a singer is a natural **gift**. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.

“We didn’t have music videos. You weren’t an overnight sensation. You had to work at it and learn your craft: how to take care of your voice, how to pace your concerts, all that trial and error.”
Aretha Franklin

It's very satisfying. To perform the way you want to. And the way you know that you can. — It’s very satisfying. To perform the way you want to. And the way you know that you can.

“I had not been in the jazz environment, having been brought up in the church. But once I got to New York, and I was signed to perform at The Village Gate and the Vanguard and clubs like that, and these – the Vanguard was one of the most elite, if not the most elite, jazz club out there.”
Aretha Franklin

President Clinton, I sang at his post-inauguration party out in Maryland. — President **Clinton**, I sang at his post-inauguration party out in Maryland.

I didn't really want to sing at first, but my dad insisted that I do. — I didn’t really want to sing at first, but my dad insisted that I do.

2 Aretha Franklin Quotes on Women Empowerment

I don’t think I was a catalyst for the women’s movement. Sorry. But if I were So much the better! — I don’t think I was a catalyst for the women’s movement. Sorry. But if I were? So much the better!

Women have broken through the glass ceiling, and they’re now more and more in the power seats.

3 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Gospel

Certainly, gospel was my background - is my background. — Certainly, gospel was my background – is my background.

I was in my dad's church, his Baptist church, and I think the first song I ever performed was 'Jesus Be a Fence Around Me.'. — I was in my dad’s church, his Baptist church, and I think the first song I ever performed was ‘Jesus Be a Fence Around Me.’.

Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me.

5 Aretha Franklin Quotes on Spirituality

“I loved going to church. I enjoyed being a part of the choir and just doing things in and around the church. But as a young girl, I certainly enjoyed watching and listening to my dad.”
Aretha Franklin

My faith always has been and always will be important to me. — My **faith** always has been and always will be important to me.

When God loves you, what can be better than that?

Let's start with the church. As you know, it's my background, it's a natural setting for me and it's definitely my roots. — Let’s start with the church. As you know, it’s my background, it’s a natural setting for me and it’s definitely my roots.

I donate heavily to the church and various churches in the Detroit community and food banks.

7 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Other Artists

“I haven’t had the occasion to meet Adele. She lives in England. So when I’m flying, or when she comes over here, perhaps we’ll have a chance. I think she’s a very fine singer, a very strong writer and performer.”
Aretha Franklin

Beyoncé is very outspoken on feminist issues. So I think that's good. That could be brought to the forefront more. — **Beyoncé** is very outspoken on feminist issues. So I think that’s good. That could be brought to the forefront more.

I certainly enjoy Usher, Beyoncé, Chris Brown, and there is Fantasia; these people will be around a while. They've got it. They've got the 'it' factor. — I certainly enjoy Usher, Beyoncé, **Chris Brown**, and there is Fantasia; these people will be around a while. They’ve got it. They’ve got the ‘it’ factor.

“I love producing, writing. I rarely write with other writers unless I have a real great respect for them. Like Burt Bacharach, or Carole Sager, or Stevie Wonder. Somebody like Smokey – like that. Otherwise, I choose to write alone.”
Aretha Franklin

As a very small girl, I listened to Charlie Parker and loved him and Max Roach and people like that.

I saw the Supremes when they were still singing in little black skirts and white blouses.

“Sam Cooke had a huge influence on me. He left the gospel field at one point and went into the secular, and he had this huge hit, ‘You Send Me.’ Irma, my older sister, and I heard ‘You Send Me’ on the radio while we were driving through the South one night. We had to stop the car. We got out and danced around the car out on the highway.”
Aretha Franklin

13 Aretha Franklin Quotes That Will Make You Think

“I used to have hamburgers coming and going, especially when I was on the road. Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum. I am now opting for salads and just healthier lunches.”
Aretha Franklin

Many of my friends were there at Motown. The studio was only a few blocks from where my dad's home was, where we lived. — Many of my **friends** were there at Motown. The studio was only a few blocks from where my dad’s home was, where we lived.

I'm a big woman. I need big hair. — I’m a big woman. I need big hair.

“52 years of recording for other people. I thought at this point, it’s time for you to record for yourself. So that way there wouldn’t be so many spoons in the soup. There would just be one Aretha spoon in the soup.”
Aretha Franklin

Don't say Aretha is making a comeback, because I've never been away! — Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away!

I'm not ever going to retire. That's - that wouldn't be good, for one, just to go somewhere and sit down and do nothing. Please. No, that's not moi. — I’m not ever going to **retire**. That’s – that wouldn’t be good, for one, just to go somewhere and sit down and do nothing. Please. No, that’s not moi.

“It is ever fabulous. I mean, fabulous. I’ve been so blessed. I’m most thankful for how good God has been to me. When you receive something like the Presidential Medal of Freedom, wow. After God’s grace, I’m so grateful for good friends, loyal fans and the love of the music. I treasure real people and I know the ones who have hung in there with me and I am truly thankful.”
Aretha Franklin