Mary Blige Quotes & Sayings

When someone comes up to me and says, 'Mary, you helped save my marriage', or, 'Mary, you helped me get out of this abusive relationship', I'm in it, really in their lives. And I'm so passionate about my feelings, but also about showing people the way through theirs. — Mary J. Blige

I can see the music. I know what it looks like. I know what color it is. The words come easy, the tears come easy, and the joy comes easy. The music tells you what to do. — Mary J. Blige

You demand respect and you'll get it. First of all, you give respect. — Mary J. Blige

Negative words are powerful boomerangs so be careful what you say about people and yourself. — Mary J. Blige

Only black people in the whole neighborhood, so let's break it down: Me, I'm a decent comedian, I'm a'ight. Mary J. Blige, one of the greatest R&B singers to ever walk the Earth. Jay-Z, one of the greatest rappers to ever live. Eddie Murphy, one of the funniest actors to ever, ever do it. Do you know what the white man that lives next door to me does for a living? He's a f*****g dentist. — Chris Rock

It's a music video but she was real specific on the character that Mary J. Blige was playing, and that I was playing in this video and I told her whenever you get to jump to the big screen I'd love to come with you and she honored that. — Blair Underwood

I decided to start my own label because so many people with talent come to me wanting to know how they can get in the music business. — Mary J. Blige

When I was little, like 7 to 15, there was nothing I wanted to do but go to church and go to school. — Mary J. Blige

I don't know. Only God knows where the story ends for me, but I know where the story begins. It's up to us to choose, whether we win or lose and I choose to win. — Mary J. Blige

I used to think I was ugly. I thought I looked like a camel. A person who doesn't love themselves, they will see anything that pops up on their face. I've seen squirrels, I've seen a bird, and I've seen all kinds of animals on my face. But that is the result of self-hate. I've learned to say: 'You know what? I am a beautiful black woman'. — Mary J. Blige

The music business is not a good place for people who don't know things. — Mary J. Blige

It was only for two years, and I jumped from family to family. It's very scary. — Mary J. Blige

Don't give up, be positive and if you know someone who knows someone at a record company don't stop beating down their door till you get heard. Don't ever say it'll never happen or it'll never happen. — Mary J. Blige

Growing up, I was the preferred hairstylist for all of my friends. — Mary J. Blige

As a child I always wanted to be a singer. The music my mother played in the house moved me - Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Mahalia Jackson. It was truly spiritual. It made you understand what God was. We are all spirits. We get depressed. But music makes you want to live. I know my music has saved my life. — Mary J. Blige

On the radio there's only a certain amount of artists: Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, T.I., Mary J Blige, Alicia Keys. Other artists are achieving things that are really special, they have a hard time getting people's attention. Music has been just a little bit lacklustre. — Q-Tip

I don't think there's anything they can say about me that I haven't said about myself already. And I would be an absolute total liar, and my fans would not respect me, if I said that my life and my marriage are perfect. But we absolutely love each other; we have fun together - it's great. — Mary J. Blige

I barely have time for my own children. To adopt more children and not have time for them, that would be poor parenting on my part. — Mary J. Blige

I don't have any health problems, but to keep your health improves your quality of life. — Mary J. Blige

When you tell your truth, you are coming from a real place, so you are automatically a leader. — Mary J. Blige

And Mary J. Blige, she's got all these fur coats and hats and stuff. She's good; I like her. — Bryan Ferry

I like what I see when I'm looking at me when I'm walking past the mirror, — Mary J. Blige

Then my life crashed and burned down: trials, men, drama, no self-love, no identity. A little identity, but not a lot of love for myself, my life. — Mary J. Blige

I suffered from self hatred so much. It's like I didn't want to look like that any more. I didn't to feel like that any more. It had to be another way. — Mary J. Blige

I would be a liar and my fans would hate me if I said to them, 'Oh, we're perfect and everything is great.' We have situations just like everyone else. We're not out in public trying to kill each other, but it's real. We love each other. — Mary J. Blige

If I could ever be on a Missy Elliott record, I could then die. Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige - I love hearing them interviewed, I love the way they talk about their art. They're very self-assured, they're funny, they're inviting. I love it. — Neko Case

I just love food, period. — Mary J. Blige

I have to have lemon and honey. I have to have apple cider vinegar, Braggs. And I have to have either Red Vines or Twizzlers. These things, you know, are the things that help my vocal performance. — Mary J. Blige

When you finally understand who you are, ages 6 through 60 will understand who you are. Because when they see a person that's come through all that I've come through, still standing, it's amazing. — Mary J. Blige

Without your health, everything else means nothing. — Mary J. Blige

I've never been a mean person. — Mary J. Blige

Life is full of trials and tribulations. It's dramatic when you don't treat people right when you're in the tribulations, but I know now how to get out of it. You have to make a decision to say 'No more', and then you know what to do when the trials happen. — Mary J. Blige

I'd like to collaborate with Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige. — Robin Thicke

I've been praying to God to show me how to forgive myself. Because ... maybe ... that's the thing I've been searching for. — Mary J. Blige

If you're looking for inner peace from the outside world, you're not going to get that. The inner peace starts with looking at you from the inside. Understanding that everything that comes to you is what you are. Everything from friends to boyfriends to the job you get - it's all a direct reflection of what you are on the inside. — Mary J. Blige

It's challenging to find an identity as a young person if you don't have the sustenance of love, because you're being shipped around. — Mary J. Blige

I'm a singer who thinks like a rapper. — Mary J. Blige

I've been a tomboy my whole life. But then you get older, you get married, you soften up. — Mary J. Blige

When you're going to do whatever you're going to do, you have to get your, put your mind into it. — Mary J. Blige

It hurts a lot when you cannot really comprehend what a person is saying in a meeting, or you don't even understand what you're reading in your contract. — Mary J. Blige

Nowadays, with the state of the music business, for any artist, whether you're up-and-coming or you've been in it for awhile, you have to explore different revenues and different ways of expressing yourself. — Mary J. Blige

The music business is really, really small. The real music is becoming almost extinct, if you don't stay true to who you are. — Mary J. Blige

It's sad that a lot of identities are lost and a lot of careers are lost because there's sort of a clone thing going on. — Mary J. Blige

There's so many things that life is, and no matter how many breakthroughs, trials will exist and we're going to get through it. Just be strong. — Mary J. Blige

I believe there are certain things that God uses to get us out of a bad situation, and I believe music was one of the things he used for me. — Mary J. Blige

I can't just make a song people can dance in a club to ... it still has to be real. — Mary J. Blige

When life is real, it's not going to be smooth. — Mary J. Blige

I blame my mother for nothing, but forgive her for everything. — Mary J. Blige

Everything is scary if you look at it. So you just got to live. — Mary J. Blige

This music business can suck all the love out of you, all the compassion for people - you can start to think you're better than them. But I want to continue to let people know that I'm no better and no worse, I'm just like you. — Mary J. Blige

If we didn't have understanding of our journey, we wouldn't be able to go on. We'd be stuck, like, 'Why me?' — Mary J. Blige

Yonkers made me strong and made me believe in myself, because so many people would doubt you and not believe. There are people that would believe in you, but the environment was so harsh, nobody wanted you to get out, you know? — Mary J. Blige

This guy! I plead the fifth. This guy is nuts."
- Eminem
"Dope questions, man. Very insightful, very thoughtful."
- Guru (Gang Starr)
"You like a Psychiatrist or some shit? This shit is just coming out but go ahead."
- Mary J. Blige
"Definitely a real interview! Digging deep up in there, man. Not afraid to ask questions!"
- K-Ci Hailey (Jodeci)
"The Wizard asked me for a copy of your magazine."
- Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (Daft Punk)
"You didn't wear your glasses and you haven't carried your hearing aid. What else is wrong with you?"
- Bushwick Bill
"Peace and blessing, Brother Harris. Thank you for inspiring my words. Keep 'yo balance."
- Erykah Badu
"Can I see that pen?"
- Bobby Brown
"What else do you want to know? Talk to me."
- Aaliyah — Harris Rosen

You can't get around pain and opposition, but you can try to be joyful in the trial, and thank yourself for the trial, and thank God for the strength to get through it. — Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige is the Queen Latifah character. Her voice in this movie [Rock of ages] is, she just gives it this incredible warmth, and she's just this person who blows out of the screen. She's just incredible. — Adam Shankman

I was inspired to create 'My Life' so I could finally share a personal part of my life beyond my music. — Mary J. Blige

I don't want no drama in my life, even though we have a little bit, but no more letting people control you. That's drama, because then you become something that you're not. — Mary J. Blige

My first album is playful. — Mary J. Blige

There's not enough time to be disrespecting ... Life is too short. — Mary J. Blige

I know who I am. I am not perfect. I'm not the most beautiful woman in the world. But I'm one of them. — Mary J. Blige

Really, every woman is an example to me, because as women we go through so much pain. We have to live this perfect life when we are messed up inside. We all go through trials and tribulations. — Mary J. Blige

I don't know what kind of God the rest of y'all are serving, but the God I serve says, 'Mary, you need to be the hottest thing this year, and I'm gonna make sure you're doing that.' — Mary J. Blige

I've done well, I've been disappointed, and I think it all goes back to you. Of course the labels are going to be the labels. It's the music business. You are a business. That's what they do. So you've got to protect yourself. — Mary J. Blige

When I was five years old I was molested and just, you know. I remember feeling, literally right before it happened, I just could not believe that this person was going to do this to me. That thing followed me all my life. The shame of thinking my molestation was my fault - it led me to believe I wasn't worth anything. — Mary J. Blige

I'm hoping that my entrepreneurial side will have me at a place where I don't have to do anything. That's what I'm striving for. — Mary J. Blige

By the time I was a teenager, when I went outside the house, it was about hip-hop all the time. Nothing but hip-hop, block parties. — Mary J. Blige

I have a very eclectic iPod. So I've got my cardio people - so it's anything from Beyonce to some Jay-Z to Janelle Monae, her song 'Tightrope,' that's a good cardio song. And then I've got Sting. I've got Mary J. Blige. I've got The Beatles. I've got Michael Jackson. I try to pick the songs that I personally love. — Michelle Obama

So as long as I'm a human being and I'm not perfect, I'm able to say I'm having some growing pains. Because in order to sustain where you are once you made such a breakthrough that everyone is looking at you, now everyone is like, 'Ooh, is she gonna make a mistake?' Yes, I'm going to make a mistake. Yes, I'm still gonna do things. — Mary J. Blige

We are all just a work in progress. — Mary J. Blige

Working in the studio is a more personal experience whereas on stage in front of a billion people, its more exciting performing live. — Mary J. Blige

Once you climb to another level, you have to figure out how to sustain it. — Mary J. Blige

I'm going down! Because you ain't around, baby, my whole world's upside down! — Mary J. Blige

It's that first step-getting out the door-that's the toughest. If you can do that, you've already won. — Mary J. Blige

My responsibility to God is to live. That's the gift he gave me. — Mary J. Blige

I don't listen to people's opinions. I have people around me who I can trust, but most of all I listen to myself. — Mary J. Blige

Cause I'm no better than you, you, or you. And I can't get on no throne and preach, 'cause I'm not God. — Mary J. Blige

You can look at my palm and see the storm coming. Read the book of my life and see I've overcome it. — Mary J. Blige

You know a lot, but you don't know everything. — Mary J. Blige

'My Life' is not an autobiography. It's just music. — Mary J. Blige

I cannot save the world; that's not what I'm trying to do. I guess I'm just trying to walk the walk and be an example to those that want it. Not everybody does, but if Mary J. Blige can come out of that same hole you were in, then you can do it, too - that's my goal: to do that without saying it, but actually live it. — Mary J. Blige

I grew up watching MTV, when Journey was huge, when Pat Benatar had 'Love Is a Battlefield,' and my friends and I used to cut school to watch this woman in the video. We loved Pat Benatar. — Mary J. Blige

I like hanging out with me, and I've accepted everything about me good, bad whatever it is. That's why I'm able to, that's why no one can tell me anything negative about myself. — Mary J. Blige

In the studio you can really concentrate on performing the song where as on stage you also have to worry about connecting with so many people, they're definitely different. — Mary J. Blige

I always want to be a messenger, a person that, you know, that's not afraid to pass on wisdom. — Mary J. Blige

I don't think I'll do foster care or adopt, to be quite honest. — Mary J. Blige

Thank you so much for supporting me from the day I stepped foot into the music industry. It really means something to me to have Maya Angelou speak on my behalf. It also means a lot to have Oprah on my speed dial! — Mary J. Blige

I love inspirational R&B, like Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Hudson. I want to do that. That kind of music stays with you. — Ashthon Jones

When you come from so many damaged places you don't ever want to spiral back there, so you gotta continue to check yourself. — Mary J. Blige

So many people are like, 'I'm perfect.' I'm so imperfect; that's why I'm able to let everything out and let people see everything. 'Cause I'm just a mess like every other person that's a mess out there. — Mary J. Blige

I mean, I know my heart is not clean, and your heart is not clean, and none of our urban hearts are clean. But you can be washed again. — Mary J. Blige

I still get nervous about singing. I drink tea with honey and lemon before every concert. And I need to have scented candles in all of my hotel rooms. — Mary J. Blige

It's the oddest match: Mary J. Blige and Julianne Hough! But we became so close. — Julianne Hough

I can have as many bad days as anyone. But I choose to say, 'I'm just fine.' — Mary J. Blige

As a kid, I was in love with Michael Jackson, and I just knew I was going to marry him someday. — Mary J. Blige

I would say my greatest musical influences have been Ella Fitzgerald and Mary J. Blige. — Estelle

Larry David makes me laugh. — Mary J. Blige

When you hold on to anger and unforgiveness, you can't move forward. — Mary J. Blige

There are people out there who want to provoke me and bring back the old Mary but I'm not giving them the satisfaction. — Mary J. Blige

I listen to gospel music. — Mary J. Blige

I believe there should be no more drama, but it's everywhere you go. It's just about how you get out. You've gotta bob and weave because it's everywhere. How do I keep the drama low? It's about using your head. — Mary J. Blige