Inspirational Quotes

Words to motivate, inspire, and guide you.

Bonnie Raitt Quotes

Humility Impact Influence Respect Surprise It is still a surprise when people tell me that I've had an influence on them, particularly when it's someone I really respect.

Career Path Identity Music Perseverance Surprise I think people must wonder how a white girl like me became a blues guitarist. The truth is, I never intended to do this for a living.

Artistry Creativity Family Influence Music Not being a natural songwriter... for me the appreciation of a great song and the writers came early on, growing up in a musical family. My dad got to sing songs by some of the greatest writers of all time, Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Empowerment Equality Feminism Relationships Respect People say, 'Gee, you don't really do political music.' Well, I sing a lot of songs about how men and women and lovers treat each other, and none of us want to be talked down to or belittled or ignored or disrespected... So I'm proud to be a feminist.

Authenticity Connection Creativity Music Perseverance Sometimes I don't go into the studio for quite a while because I haven't found enough good songs. They have to have a certain caliber and connect with me because I'm going to be playing them for the rest of my life. I start off with a circle of friends whose songs I love anyway.

Arts and Music Education Future Opportunities Holistic Learning Personal Development Especially girls, but any kids exposed to music programs and arts programs do much better on their tests. They have a better chance of going to college. They can focus better. You know, we're not just automatons learning how to work machines and do engineering and math and science. All of that's great, but you've got to build a whole person.

Balance Community Service Contribution Music and Art Personal Values The fifth member of my band is my non-profit work.

Aging Career Longevity Humor Music Self-Expression I'm just glad that I'm the musical equivalent of a character actress, because blues singers can keep singing and having an audience at 35, and someone like Madonna's gonna have to find something else to do, 'cos I don't care how pointy those bras are that she wears, they're still gonna look a little odd when she's 55!

Community and Identity Cultural Influence Music Appreciation Music Genres Technological Impact The world I live in is benefiting from things like satellite radio. Jazz and blues fests are everywhere now, and Americana is going strong on college radio. What I'm hearing is an appreciation of real music.

Activism Global Movements Gratitude Media Influence Thank God for Occupy and thank God for 'The Daily Show,' Colbert and the rising up that's going on around the world.

Humility Identity Influence Legacy Music I'm honored when young people say they've gone to school on slide guitar with my records. But people get their influence from my live shows and records and YouTube, not me personally. I walk around with a hat on. People don't know it's me.

Cultural Connection Future of Fundraising Music Appreciation Personal Passion Technology and Innovation At 3 A.M., I'm still up watching videos of jazz heroes I never saw live. It's so thrilling. And not just the music. The Internet is changing the future of fund-raising. I'm thrilled by the potential.

Aesthetics Cultural Neutrality Individuality Music Perception I never saw music in terms of men and women or black and white. There was just cool and uncool.

Achievement Music Perseverance Success I made my first album, and I guess it wasn't a fluke, because now I'm on my 16th.

Acceptance Gratitude Humor Perspective Resilience I'm happy to say that at 62, I think I've reached that point where stuff doesn't bother me as much, and my gratitude level has gone way up, especially having gone through the loss that I've had, and losing so many of the great artists that I was close to. They taught me how to see it with a grain of salt and a lot of humor and perspective.

Acceptance Humor Limitations Realism I finally learned to accept that I can't make radio play blues any more than I could get Reagan out of the White House.

Experience Fear Religion Spirituality Religion is for people who are scared to go to hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there.

Childhood Family Hobbies Music Personal Growth Playing guitar was one of my childhood hobbies, and I had played a little at school and at camp. My parents would drag me out to perform for my family, like all parents do, but it was a hobby - nothing more.

Activism History Music Responsibility Social Change I think we have responsibilities to be active in the things we believe in, regardless of what our job is. At least in my lifetime, there has been a tremendous combining of activism and music, that came up in the era of Pete Seeger and the Weavers and Joan Baez and Bob Dylan and Peter Paul & Mary.

Cultural Change Innovation Music Evolution Popularity Revolution Superficial pop will always exist - there've always been Fabians - but when people like Dire Straits and Bruce Hornsby start having hits, it suggests that there's a revolution going on in music.

Cultural Heritage Diversity in Music Economic Impact Music Industry Preservation of Art Forms The consolidation of the music business has made it difficult to encourage styles like the blues, all of which deserve to be celebrated as part of our most treasured national resources.

Aging Audience Music Performance Personal Growth I was always drawn to the blues. Alberta Hunter at the Cookery was a life-changing experience. I only wanted to get enriched as a performer as I got older, to have an audience which got older, too, and would come to see me when I'm 80.

Aging and Wisdom Cultural Value Music Appreciation In blues, classical and jazz, you get more revered with age.

Artistic Freedom Authenticity Cross-Genre Influence Overcoming Barriers Revolution in Music I didn't have to be a pop singer with a certain look. When I started, there was really a revolution in natural artists with blues and folk artists crossing over; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to get started.

Balance Fulfillment Life Music Personal Growth I have a really full life, both within music and outside it.

Distribution Independence Innovation Legacy Artists Music Industry With the new ways of getting music out, you don't need a label if you're a legacy artist.

Art Communication Positivity Solutions Unity I'm really careful about not slamming my politics home in my shows, but I don't try to hide, either. The arts can be a great way to bring people together. I don't preach from the stage. I try to stay positive on solutions.

Aging Growth Hope Self-Improvement I've watched my peers get better with age and hoped that would happen with me.

Artists Music Opinion Politics Satire A lot of political music to me can be rather pedantic and corny, and when it's done right - like Bruce Springsteen or Jackson Browne or great satire from Randy Newman, there's nothing better.

Creativity Exploration Learning Passion Perseverance I tend to be freer on the piano. I never took guitar lessons, so my reach exceeds my grasp - what I hear in my head I don't always know how to play. But I love to play over something else. I'm not a self-starter. I get kind of bored with the same three folk chords that I know.