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Jill Scott

Jill Scott Quotes

Singer-songwriter

Jill Scott, born on April 4, 1972, is an American singer-songwriter known for her emotive voice and unique musical style, which blends soul, R&B, and jazz elements. Her music often addresses love, life, and social issues, and her songs have won the hearts of many listeners.

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Famous Jill Scott Quotes

“Africa the continent is not just what we see on the news. It's... not AIDS, and it's not just war and poverty. It's so much more. It's an abundant continent, and Botswana is an abundant place.”

War Poverty News Aids Continents Just War

Author:Jill Scott

“Anytime you share life stories with other people, you know, you are acknowledging their humanity and kind of accessing some things about yourself, and other people start to expect things about themselves. It's kind of like a fellowship.”

People Knows Kind Stories Humanity Share About Yourself Fellowship Life Story

Author:Jill Scott

“As slavery died for the greater good of America, and the movement for equality sputtered to life, the white woman was on the cover of every American magazine. She was the dazzling jewel on every movie screen, the glory of every commercial and television show.”

Shows America White Greater Movement Television Glory Died Slavery Screens Magazines Jewels Television Shows Dazzling Greater Good

Author:Jill Scott

“At my aunt's funeral, I promised myself that I wouldn't be bound by the belief that I'm supposed to stay in anything - whether it's a relationship, a job, a house, or a circumstance - if it makes me miserable. She gave me the courage to find my own happiness.”

Ifs Jobs House Belief My Own Circumstances Bounds Miserable Funeral Aunt My Own Happiness

Author:Jill Scott

“Back in my mid-20s I was told I'd never be able to have children as I wasn't having periods. Doctors tried to start up my monthly cycles, but when nothing worked, they actually offered me a hysterectomy. Without it, they said I might get ovarian cancer in the future. I chose not to have the operation, and am so glad I didn't.”

Children Said Might Able Periods Doctors Cancer Glad Operations Cycles They Said Ovarian Cancer Hysterectomy

Author:Jill Scott

“Being on set is a hard thing. A lot of people are like, oh, you get to make a movie, and it's all fun. But the reality is, it's a lot of hours. It's a lot of reshoots; it's a lot of waiting. And you can become increasingly agitated by the amount of time that you are waiting. But that's real.”

People Real Hard Reality Fun Waiting Hours Amount Hard Things

Author:Jill Scott

“Common is one of the nicest people I've ever met, and to describe him as a vile rapper because he has an opinion... just says a lot about the state of America. You are allowed to have an opinion in the United States - he's never harmed anybody, he just has an opinion about a president that wasn't good for our country.”

People Country States America President United Common Opinion United States Mets Our Country Rapper

Author:Jill Scott

“Everything starts with writing. I heard Nikki Giovanni and was blown away. I just thought 'wow'; she was writing from a black girl's perspective, and the imagery was so vivid that I started doing spoken word.”

Writing Girl Black Heard Perspective Wow Vivid Imagery Spoken Word Blown Away Black Girl

Author:Jill Scott

“For anyone who feels they are overwhelmed by their job, or maybe they take their job too seriously or are working too hard, I say go to a safari, particularly the Okavango Delta, and just be humbled.”

Feels Hard Jobs Overwhelmed Delta Safari Working Too Hard

Author:Jill Scott

“For my writing, and because I love talking to young women about life, I often asked them which would they rather have - a father in the house with them while growing up or a big butt? I tell you 86 percent of the time, girls say a big butt because it gets them further.”

Writing Bigs Young Girl Father House Talking Growing Up Growing Percent Young Women

Author:Jill Scott

“Heartbreak was the impetus to me writing poems and music in the first place. Over the years, I had my heart broken so badly that if I didn't find a way to get all the pain out, I was going to lose my mind. I was crazy! Like, wanting to slash tires and smash car windows. Crazy! I was so hurt that I had to write.”

Ifs Way Writing Years Mind Firsts Heart Pain Loses Hurt Crazy Car Broken My Heart Window Tire Impetus Writing Poems So Hurt

Author:Jill Scott

“I am a huge Prince fan. It's a very rare thing for him to have people open for him. It's been the Time and Sheila E., and that's about it. Building a relationship with him has been like a dream come true. I've been looking for a mentor, and I feel like I have that in him.”

People Feels Has Beens Dream Fans Building Huge Mentor Dreams Come True Rare Things Sheila

Author:Jill Scott

“I chose No. 1 Ladies' Detective, or I'll say it chose me, and it was an absolute blessing, for the experience of being in Africa for seven months and learning so many different things, from languages to foods to greetings. On so many levels, it was an incredible experience.”

Different Language Levels Months Blessing Absolutes Seven Incredibles Different Things Detectives Greetings Seven Months

Author:Jill Scott

“I could hear music playing in the background of works by certain authors, like Poe and Shakespeare. And I discovered Nikki Giovanni when I was in eighth grade. Her writing has a musical energy with pulse and rhythm, almost like jazz or hip-hop.”

Writing Certain Energy Jazz Musical Hip Hop Backgrounds Rhythm Hips Grades Hops Pulse Eighth Grade

Author:Jill Scott

“I did an internship at the Ardent theatre company in Philly after dropping out of college. I was earning $165 a week building sets and cleaning the toilets. Cleaning toilets is a good way of getting in touch with your creativity. That's when you find out if you got anything going on in your head.”

Ifs Way Company Creativity Week Building College Theatre Earning Cleaning Toilets Dropping Good Way Ardent Dropping Out Internships

Author:Jill Scott

“I didn't leave home until 27. I was an only child raised in Philadelphia by my mother and grandmother. My grandmother controlled the stove. She made a lot of potato meals - mashed potato, potato souffle, potato pancakes. When we didn't have electricity we ate romantically, by candlelight.”

“I don't think I'll get married again. I'm not looking for it. What I can say about my divorce and my failed engagement is that I learned where my bar is.”

Thinking I Can Married Divorce Bars Engagement

Author:Jill Scott

“I don't want to force anything on anyone. I'm not trying to bust you over the head and make you buy this record or this song or whatever. I'm presenting it to you so you can take it in. You know, it's like trying to force a kid to eat broccoli. If I present it as trees that make your muscles grow, my son is like, 'I'm down with getting muscles.'”

Ifs Knows Want Trying Kids Song Force Grows Records Tree Son Muscles My Son Presenting Broccoli

Author:Jill Scott

“I had to wear a fat suit to play Mma Ramotswe in 'The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.' She's described as being like a small elephant, but she loves her body and size. When we were filming in Africa, it was 110F. It was torturous. I drank a lot of water and ate cucumbers all the time, and underneath the fat suit I shed pounds - I couldn't help it.”

Play Helping Body Water Size Fats Suits Agency Pounds Mma Shed Elephants Drank Detectives Cucumbers

Author:Jill Scott

“I just want to continue to grow, as an actor, and dig. Hopefully, one day, I'll lose myself in a role. My only worry about that is that I just want to be able to come back home. I don't want to get lost forever. That scares me.”

Want Home Able Actors Lost Grows Loses Roles Worry Forever One Day Hopefully Scare Back Home

Author:Jill Scott

“I like to read Octavia E. Butler's 'Wild Seed' over and over again. And J. California Cooper's 'The Wake of the Wind.' That one makes me cry from joy. I'll mourn - I'll actually mourn - and then I'll cry from joy. She's wonderful.”

Joy Wonderful Cry Wind Seeds California Mourn Butlers

Author:Jill Scott

“I never expected the White House to be warm, and the artwork on the walls was extraordinary. I am a fan of the Louvre, but being there it was almost just as good.”

House White Fans Wall Extraordinary Warm Expected White House Being There Artwork Louvre

Author:Jill Scott

“I panicked when my son, Jett, stopped eating baby food. He's only two but his food vocabulary is fantastic. He likes my baked tilapia and string beans with chopped garlic. But he really likes pizza. Sometimes every inanimate object to him is pizza.”

Two Sometimes Objects Son Baby Eating Likes Fantastic Strings My Son Vocabulary Pizza Beans Garlic Inanimate Objects

Author:Jill Scott

“I think human beings will always still really enjoy using our imaginations, and Fringe allows you to do that. It's slightly scary and believable. There just might be an alternate universe. There just might be people on the other side that are like us, living a different life.”

People Thinking Humans Stills Different Might Universe Enjoy Sides Imagination Human Beings Scary Fringe Believable Different Life

Author:Jill Scott

“I think the first time I really heard poetry was in the schoolyard. Just the little limericks that kids say when they're jumping rope and playing games. I think that's the first time I heard rhyming words - I don't know if I'd call that the definitive poetry, but that's when I heard rhyming words said and not necessarily sung.”

Ifs Thinking Knows Firsts Littles Said Kids Games Heard First Time Jumping Rope Playing Games Rhyming Limerick

Author:Jill Scott

“I truly have a village supporting me. My son has godmothers, godfathers, grandparents and so many others in his life who love him as much as I do. They're there for both of us. I may not have a mate or husband, but I'm definitely not a single parent.”

May Parent Son Husband My Son Village Mates Grandparent Single Parent Godmother

Author:Jill Scott

“I truly loved being pregnant and feeling what was going on inside my body and watching it change. It's difficult to recoup, but still amazing nonetheless. I would have another one.”

Stills Feelings Body Difficult Pregnant Being Pregnant

Author:Jill Scott

“I was backstage at the House of Blues in L.A where I was about to perform, and Stevie Wonder and Prince turned up at my dressing room together! Stevie started beat boxing and Prince started singing one of my songs, all of a sudden it was like I was in a cypher with these incredible artists.”

Together Artist Song House Rooms Wonder Beats Singing Incredibles Boxing Dressings Dressing Rooms

Author:Jill Scott

“I was once making a burger for myself at my boyfriend's house and a lyric started pouring out and I had to catch it, so I ran to another room to write it down, but then the kitchen caught fire. His cabinets were charred, and he was furious. But it was worth it for a song.”

Writing Song House Rooms Fire Caught Ran Kitchen Worth It Cabinets Pouring Furious My Boyfriend Burgers

Author:Jill Scott

“I was reading poetry to my girlfriends, and they were like, you're really good. You should go to some poetry readings or something. And I eventually went and got a, you know, somewhat of a name for myself and a little bit of a following.”

Knows Should Littles Reading Names Bits Like You Little Bit Following Girlfriend My Girlfriend Reading Poetry Poetry Reading

Author:Jill Scott

“I would say for every successful black woman in America or in the world, really, it's difficult to be the head of the household, financially. It is for the man in your life. It can be very hard for them. And there's a delicate balance. I'm not quite sure I know what that balance is just yet.”

Knows Men World Hard America Difficult Black Successful Balance Delicate Household Black Women

Author:Jill Scott

“I'd been told that when you first put your feet on African ground, you'll be hit by a feeling of overwhelming understanding, like you've returned home and suddenly belong. Quite frankly, I didn't feel that.”

Feels Firsts Feelings Home Understanding Feet Like You Overwhelming

Author:Jill Scott

“I'd love to work with Missy Elliott. I'd love to work with Bonnie Raitt. I'd love, love, love to work with Barbra Streisand. I'm reaching, because why not? You don't know what's going to happen in this life.”

Knows Happens This Life Reaching Why Not Streisand

Author:Jill Scott

“I'm a secret interior decorator. There's a mural on my dining room wall of the railroad tracks at 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. I love having my hometown with me out here in California.”

Rooms Secret Streets Wall Track California Stations Interiors Philadelphia Hometown Railroads Dining Dining Rooms Decorators Railroad Tracks Mural Room Wall

Author:Jill Scott

“I'm excited about turning 40. I've been an adult for a long time, but there is a difference between being an adult and being a grown-up. I'm someone's mummy now and I'm enjoying that. I feel as if I'm about to hit my peak.”

Ifs Feels Long Enjoy Differences Long Time Adults Excited Mummy Turning 40

Author:Jill Scott

“I'm going to be a strict mum. I know that love is the most important thing - you've got to have lots of kisses and cuddles - but you also need to mix it with discipline or you'll be in a heap of trouble.”

Knows Needs Important Love Is Trouble Discipline Kissing Important Things Mum Strict

Author:Jill Scott

“I'm going to do as much as I can with this life, and then I'm going to make sure to take some time off and be simple and ride my bike and hang out with friends.”

I Can Simple This Life Hanging Out Bike Time Off

Author:Jill Scott

“I'm the girl that waits for the director to say, 'I like that,' or 'Can you boost it up?,' or 'Can you pull it down?' I'm that kind of actor. I started in theater, so that's the feedback that I'm accustomed to. It's the feedback that I really thrive off of.”

Kind Girl Actors Waiting Directors Theater Thrive Accustomed Feedback Boost

Author:Jill Scott

“I've been around the world and I've had bras made in different places, and each time I'm experiencing the same troubles: the painful shoulders, the underwire cutting into my flesh.”

World Made Different Cutting Trouble Painful Flesh Shoulders Around The World Different Place Bras

Author:Jill Scott

“I've been reading poetry publicly for 20 years, and this is what you do - you express, you sometimes dig a bit to get a conversation started. That's the point of poetry. You're supposed to go, 'Hmmmm,' and 'Woooh!'”

Years Sometimes Reading Bits Conversation Reading Poetry

Author:Jill Scott

“I've done a lot of fighting in my time, and I'm down to do some more. I don't want to, but you know, there's just certain things that you can't sit down and take.”

Knows Want Done Certain Fighting Down And My Time

Author:Jill Scott

“If I feel really ugly or unhappy, sometimes I'll choose bright colors so they'll make me feel good. Yellows, pinks, light blues and orange. I just want to feel good all the time if I can. And colors and hairstyles and all that kind of helps out.”

Ifs Want Feels Kind I Can Sometimes Helping Light Color Ugly Unhappy Feel Good Orange Hairstyles Bright Colors

Author:Jill Scott

“Lately I've been going to all these high schools talking to the students, answering their questions, listening to what they have to say. It has been an incredible journey to be around them and try to give them what my mother gave me.”

Giving Trying Has Beens School Mother Talking Journey Students Listening High School Incredibles

Author:Jill Scott

“Mos Def is one of the most creative, intelligent human beings I've had the opportunity to work with. He is fun. The entire time, he would go in and out of different characters, just for the fun of it. Awesome energy.”

Humans Different Character Opportunity Energy Fun Human Beings Creative Intelligent Different Characters

Author:Jill Scott

“Most of the time, particularly with this record, 'The Light of the Sun,' I really just been standing in front of a microphone and blacking out musically, you know. I'd come back a couple hours later and there's six songs from beginning to end, you know? I don't know what I'm going to say. I don't know how I'm going to say it.”

Knows Ends Light Song Hours Know How Sun Records Fronts Couple Six Standing Microphones

Author:Jill Scott

“My earliest influence was Quincy Jones. I thought 'The Wiz' soundtrack was the most amazing thing I'd ever heard. It was my first record and you had Michael Jackson, Ted Ross, Nipsey Russell and Diana Ross on it. I even took it to show and tell in third grade!”

Firsts Shows Records Heard Influence Thirds Grades Amazing Things Most Amazing Soundtracks Diana Third Grade Wiz

Author:Jill Scott

“My grandmother told me: 'Never be in debt to anyone or anything.' Which is probably why I've never been financially extravagant - I still go to Costco. I'm always conscious of living within my means.”

Mean Stills Conscious Debt Grandmother My Grandmother Extravagant Costco

Author:Jill Scott

“My heart and prayers go out to all single moms because it's tough, and I can't imagine any teenager dealing with a baby and all those hormones raging.”

Heart I Can Prayer Imagine Baby Mom My Heart Tough Rage Teenager Hormones Single Mom

Author:Jill Scott

“My mother's a genius. She just kept feeding me art on whatever we had; paper plates, silver platter, didn't matter. You know, she just kept feeding it to me. So we went to see all kinds of theater. We would go to the art museum pretty much every Sunday, and I would watch her. She let me know that art was supposed to touch.”

Knows Kind Art Matter Mother Watches Genius Paper Let Me Theater All Kinds Silver Sunday Museums Plates Feeding Silver Platter

Author:Jill Scott

“My son, Jett, is two, and when I was pregnant my nose got bigger, so I got a new one. Everything was bigger for a while after having Jet, but I knew I needed to be able to walk up my stairs without being winded. It took me two years to lose 60 lbs - lots of walking, bike-riding, kick-boxing and performing.”

Years Two Able Loses Walks Son Needed Walking Bigger Noses Performing Kicks Boxing Two Years My Son Riding Pregnant Bike Stairs Jet Were Pregnant Bike Riding

Author:Jill Scott

About the Author

Born: April 4, 1972
Known for: Singer-songwriter
Quotes: 177

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