Estefan Quotes & Sayings

A parent that's upset or resentful is not going to be a great paren. — Gloria Estefan

I know that people think of me in terms of Latin music and that's wonderful, that's my heritage, that's who I am, but there's so much more to me and my music. — Gloria Estefan

As an entertainer, my job is to help people have fun. — Gloria Estefan

We seal our fate with the choices we take, but don't give a second thought to the chances we take. — Gloria Estefan

Everything's funny for God's sake. Everything. — Gloria Estefan

The responsibility of carrying and bringing a new life into this world is one that cannot be taken lightly. — Gloria Estefan

Being Latin parents makes us extremely expressive with our affections. — Gloria Estefan

I gotta tell you, my nature is not to be the center of attention. — Gloria Estefan

Nothing ever stays in the middle. You always go from one extreme to the other, and politics is certainly that way. — Gloria Estefan

My daughter is almost a young lady. She's going to be 10 years old in December and I want to be there day-in and day-out. — Gloria Estefan

We protect aspirin bottles in this country better than we protect guns from accidents by children. — Gloria Estefan

Apparently Pope John Paul II and his boys - is that what you call them? - loved one of my songs and thought I was putting spiritual messages in my music. I'm not religious as such. Dogma and I don't get along. — Gloria Estefan

Love you all the time, 'cause when I close my eyes, I still can see your smile, it's bright enough to light my life — Gloria Estefan

I don't want anything from Cuba. I want them to be free and enjoy the things I enjoy. — Gloria Estefan

In this life, I'm always going to choose the positive. — Gloria Estefan

I think we should all live the moment. But you also have to think ahead. You have to think, 'Am I going to be happy with this five, ten years from now? Is it going to let me evolve and grow, or am I going to grow to one day wish I had never done it?' Sometimes you just have to think a little bit ahead. — Gloria Estefan

We do have the power to save one another ... — Gloria Estefan

My son traveled the world with me on every tour. He wasn't a lover of school, so it was easy with him. I had a tutor on the road, keep him at the same level, so when he'd pop back home he'd go right back in. — Gloria Estefan

Make sure everything you do you really like, because you have to sing it the rest of your life. — Gloria Estefan

It's very tough for a woman in the music business, and he really was such a motivator from the beginning, when I was super-shy, and he saw a lot in me on a personal level that he knew could carry through on the stage. — Gloria Estefan

I wanted very badly to be a mum. I'm a very maternal person. But at the point that I met Emilio I was focusing on a career. I never would have thought that I would get married at 21 and much less be a mum by 23. — Gloria Estefan

Then [after Castro dies and her triumphal return to Havana], at last, I could sing for my people. — Gloria Estefan

I think it's important to have a happy parent. — Gloria Estefan

If the 70's freed our inhibitions, what good did it do? — Gloria Estefan

[I would like to be] one of [the first pop singers to perform in a free Cuba]. I know the list is huge. And it would be hard to pull off
I'd have a lump as big as a tostone [fried green plantain] in my throat. But oh my God, what a dream
it would be the height of my personal and professional career. — Gloria Estefan

A lot of the way I sing is playing off other musicians. It's what I love to do the most. — Gloria Estefan

In Europe there's the upper crust, and these are long, historically families and social systems that have certain established rules that's harder to break into. — Gloria Estefan

I'd like them to see that those things that set us apart or make us different can be wonderful contributions to the world around us. I'd like them to see that size and color are irrelevant to the dreams we envision for ourselves. And I'd also love for them to see that life is a journey, and every step of the way, we can learn something and become stronger and wiser. — Gloria Estefan

I wanted to talk to very young kids about self-image and about being different and how that can be your strength, especially from the immigrant perspective. — Gloria Estefan

For the rest of my life, the one song that people will remember
regardless
is "Conga" ... I never get tired of singing it. It never gets old for me. — Gloria Estefan

I bit down three nails rooting for the Heat. — Gloria Estefan

She's an amazing dog and really inspired everything that's in this book. — Gloria Estefan

I thought it would be lovely to use [pet bulldog] Noelle as an example to teach the importance of being who you are. For me it's important to inspire children in a positive way, and at times they understand more messages through entertainment than when one is talking to them directly. — Gloria Estefan

I make the best pancakes you'll ever have! And I claim that title gladly. On Saturdays I make them for everybody. — Gloria Estefan

The most beautiful thing about music is that it transcends most anything. — Gloria Estefan

I think that the only way to teach is by example, as children will more easily follow what they see you do than what you tell them to do. — Gloria Estefan

I left Cuba when I was two years old. They took away my country, they stole the most intimate thing a human being can have. How could I forget that Fidel Castro was the person who did me so much harm? — Gloria Estefan

I've been offered a lot of things that celebrities do that I wouldn't do, like perfumes, lines of clothing and this, that and the other. — Gloria Estefan

If there's ever been a dark moment in my life ... well, I wanted to check out. Music was a big escape. — Gloria Estefan

When you're a front man for a band, there's nowhere to hide. It took me a long time to get used to that. But music is my first love. I started singing when I talked. — Gloria Estefan

Having felt people's love and support first hand through difficult moments in my life makes me feel it's our responsibility to help one another. — Gloria Estefan

You can put things off until tomorrow but tomorrow may never come. — Gloria Estefan

Music has been so healing in my life, so the fact that my music could be that for someone else is the best gift of my whole career. People have told me that they got married to my music, divorced to my music, and played my music while they were having their baby. — Gloria Estefan

We seal our fate with the choices we make. — Gloria Estefan

Toys are not a need people typically think of, but they've got all these kids who have absolutely nothing to do. — Gloria Estefan

We understand that as public figures, we are a target for people who have nothing to lose in their quest for fame and easy money, ... preposterous, slanderous and defamatory lies. — Emilio Estefan

I wrote poetry, which got me into lyrics. Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Elton John pulled me into pop. I started singing with a band - just for fun - when I was 17. And pretty soon, I was thinking I could sing pop in English as well as Spanish. — Gloria Estefan

[My first children's book] is very subliminal, let's put it that way. It even has a bit of a metaphysical little message in there [about how] we're all somehow connected and we all have a responsibility toward each other. Although you may feel alone in the world, you definitely are not. — Gloria Estefan

[After a poor prognosis for recovery from her doctor following her 1990 bus accident] I said if it is up to me, I'm going to be OK. — Gloria Estefan

As an immigrant, I appreciate, far more than the average American, the liberties we have in this country. Silence is a big enemy of morality. I don't want our blunders in history to get repeated. — Gloria Estefan

To know that everything we say and do to this new little human being may have a profound effect on him or her is a daunting obligation. — Gloria Estefan

Neither. I did not bring my crown, and the last thing I would want to do is get into politics. — Gloria Estefan

I wrote these two songs ["Coming Out of the Dark" and "Always Tomorrow"] as a celebration of hope. And, I want to send it out to all of those people who are suffering through this terrible disaster [Hurricane Katrina], and please know that you are not alone
and you will not be. — Gloria Estefan

When most artists walk offstage, they go to a lonely hotel room. I went home to my family. They were there before the show, during and after. It's been great. I never would have done it any other way. I wasn't gonna miss raising my kids. There was no way that was gonna happen. — Gloria Estefan

All I tell artists is, 'Do what you love. Never let anybody talk you into changing what your musical idea is just to try to get a hit, because you're chasing your tail that way. It's not going to happen, and if you're successful, you have to do it the rest of your life. Stay true to it and do it for the sake of the art.' — Gloria Estefan

When you sing in English and Spanish, it's two completely different forms of expression and ... even the people who don't speak Spanish love to hear me sing in Spanish. — Gloria Estefan

I've sung since I talked, when I'm two, but what I sang was ballads, because it's very hard to do a dance track with your little acoustic guitar when you're a kid. — Gloria Estefan

The secret of a long marriage is shaving your legs every day ... because it shows you still care. — Gloria Estefan

I'm in great shape considering I have hardware in my back. I work out constantly to keep my muscles limber and my abs strong so they can take the burnt of everything. — Gloria Estefan

We must feel the pain before the pleasure, only then can we tell them apart. — Gloria Estefan

The sad truth is that opportunity doesn't knock twice. — Gloria Estefan

I spent 15 years on the road between touring and recording and I never saw anything. I want to enjoy life. — Gloria Estefan

It is so important for me to keep authentic Cuban sounds alive. All of these great artists have changed the landscape of Latin music and it's an honor to have them on this album ["90 Millas," released in September of 2007]. I believe this album will expose a new generation to the richness of Cuban music. — Gloria Estefan

For I've finally realized, that I could be infinitely better than before, definitely stronger. I'll face whatever comes my way, I'll savor each moment of the day, Love as many people as I can along the way. Help someone who's given up, even if it's just to raise my eyes and pray. — Gloria Estefan

My friends call me 'Dolittle One' [a reference to her physical stature and affinity for animals]. — Gloria Estefan

You never know what life has in store for you, but I believe there are certain things one is meant to go through — Gloria Estefan

As an artist, you dream about accumulating enough successful music to someday do just one greatest-hits album, but to reach the point where you're releasing your second collection of hits is beyond belief. — Gloria Estefan

I majored in Psychology in college. I was going to be a child psychologist. — Gloria Estefan

There's no reason that just because you're a celebrity you can't write. — Gloria Estefan

I'm very excited about this wonderful opportunity to take part in the evolution of a company that is integral to the Hispanic community and a powerful force in all areas of the media. — Gloria Estefan

You know, it's funny how songs continue to grow and evolve and become a new and deeper reflection of your life. — Gloria Estefan

My job as an entertainer is to take you some place else. I love exploring different genres of music to please my fans. — Gloria Estefan

The challenge is always as a writer, is this going to work, because it's a very intimate process, and I tend to be very introverted and insular, and when I write, it's in my head. — Gloria Estefan

The greatest feeling is to have somebody that's so happy to see you. — Gloria Estefan

I am trying to teach my children to feel a responsibility for their fellow human beings and a sense of connection with ... the world around them. — Gloria Estefan

Love is a constant source of inspiration, surprise, and wonderment. — Gloria Estefan

Stevie Wonder always smells so good ... I'm like a DEA dog, I can smell people a block away! — Gloria Estefan

My mum had a very strong moral code, which I kind of came with. I never really had to be told what was right or wrong - I knew. I was very mature from early on and I was a very good girl, so she never had any trouble with me. — Gloria Estefan

I have a twenty-month-old baby [girl], [and] a sixteen-year-old boy same maturity level. — Gloria Estefan

Sometimes my mother had difficulty communicating with me about certain topics. — Gloria Estefan

I spent my childhood alone, overweight and ugly, angry at everything, and knowing nothing of a life beyond this sadness. — Gloria Estefan

In the United States, if you believe in yourself and you're determined and persevere, you're going to succeed. — Gloria Estefan

My favorite process is writing, from day one. The songs I have written throughout the years were a real great opportunity for me to communicate, because I think tha'ts my prime objective on this planet. — Gloria Estefan

What's the point if you make something that's not you, and you're successful? You have to perform it the rest of your life. — Gloria Estefan

If you're trying to do what's popular now, you're way behind already. By the time you record it and do it and try to copy it, it's moved on. — Gloria Estefan

My mom was definitely very strict with me. — Gloria Estefan

The Internet has been a blessing and a curse. The curse we know: A lot of people appropriating your intellectual property without paying for it. But I think it's important to realize the blessing of the Internet, which is that everybody has a voice and you can break through, even without a record company. — Gloria Estefan

I'm happy and I have a great life. — Gloria Estefan

And, because of the life that I shared with these two amazing women [her mother and maternal grandmother] and the hardships and struggles that I saw them overcome, I learned an invaluable lesson: and that is that women can do anything we set our minds to ... and then some! — Gloria Estefan

It's not so much for me where you come from, who you are, what race you are. We're just human beings that are still a work in progress and there's a lot that we've got to overcome, so that we can all be equal. — Gloria Estefan

Once you know the Romance languages, singing in those languages is so sexy and sensual. I do have a global audience, so why not? — Gloria Estefan

When you are happy it is harder to write [songs]. — Gloria Estefan

I have great genes. Thank you to my mom and dad for that one. — Gloria Estefan

My inspirations include the Beatles - love, love, love them - Elton John, Carole King, and Stevie Wonder. — Gloria Estefan

I'm very appreciative of, and I also, having traveled the world, know that the United States is one of the few places where there really are no limitations. As long as you've got drive and hard work and a good idea and you can get out there and do your thing, there's no social classes, so in a lot of countries there's a big history of regardless of how much money you may make, there's still that little thing where you're not in society. That doesn't exist here. — Gloria Estefan

My Conga people [fans] will find me anywhere I go. — Gloria Estefan

Because it's one thing when you - oh, I love this tune. But then when you go to sing it, it's got to have something really personal. Then down to 25, and then to pick the final ones I just picked the ones that were more personal, that had something to do with my life. — Gloria Estefan

Fashion is nice, but it's for the fans. If it were up to me, I'd be in a sweat suit! — Gloria Estefan

A woman's exterior beauty is a reflection of her internal peace and happiness. — Gloria Estefan

My mom was a source of strength. She showed me by example that women, regardless of how difficult life may get, can do it all. — Gloria Estefan