I'm not everybody's cup of tea. But sometimes criticism can be hurtful. Be respectful I'm a good piano player, I can sing well, I write good songs. If you don't like it, fair enough. But give me a break.

Criticism is the soul of democracy. If democracy truly runs in your veins, you must embrace it.

I don't mind telling you this morning that sometimes I feel discouraged. I felt discouraged in Chicago. As I move through Mississippi and Georgia and Alabama, I feel discouraged. Living every day under the threat of death, I feel discouraged sometimes. Living every day under extensive criticisms, even from Negroes, I feel discouraged sometimes. Yes, sometimes I feel discouraged and feel my work's in vain. But then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again.

I think all my songs are under the label emotion​. The more I open up, the more I get hurt, so basically what happens is I'm just riddled with scars.

I fall in love far too quickly and end up getting hurt all the time. I've got scars all over.

Only the one that hurts you can make you feel better. Only the one that inflicts pain can take it away.