Top quotes by Whoopi Goldberg

Sitting at the table during Color Purple and looking up and suddenly realizing I was acting in front of Steven Spielberg, was pretty cool. It was pretty good. Votes: 23

There are roles I am never considered for. Meryl Streep roles, let's say. Why not? I really wanted to do 'Ironweed,' for example, because the depression era in this country was one of the best for multiracial people, because everybody was poor. Everybody lived in the tents, and under buildings, and under gratings, together. Votes: 12

That's the thing about Mother Nature, she really doesn't care what economic bracket you're in. Votes: 11

I think the idea that you know who your inner self is on a daily basis, because... you know. What's good for you 25 years ago may not be good for you now. So, to keep in touch with that, I think that's the first ingredient for success. Because if you're a successful human being, everything else is gravy, I think. Votes: 11

If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of 20 million full-time volunteers. Votes: 9

When I listen to these women, it makes what I thought were my hard knocks feel like little nudges. Votes: 9

I don't have pet peeves like some people. I have whole kennels of irritation. Votes: 9

I'm as American as Chevrolet. Votes: 8

Actors have no color. That's the art form. Votes: 7

I don't have pet peeves; I have whole kennels of irritation. Votes: 7

An actress can only play a woman. I'm an actor, I can play anything. Votes: 7

I am the American Dream. I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country. That's exactly what I've done. Votes: 7

When I was nine years old, Star Trek came on, I looked at it and I went screaming through the house, 'Come here, mum, everybody, come quick, come quick, there's a black lady on television and she ain't no maid!' I knew right then and there I could be anything I wanted to be. Votes: 7

I used my imagination to make the grass whatever color I wanted it to be. Votes: 6

The only argument you can make against having [Confederate] flag as spectacularly shown as it is around the south is the Nazis. I mean, it would be like having the swastika flag... Votes: 6

I don't have pet peeves; I have whole kennels of irritation." Votes: 5

Art and life are subjective. Not everybody's gonna dig what I dig, but I reserve the right to dig it. Votes: 5

I believe that parts of people like John Garfield and Moms Mabley, the parts of them that I needed to be able to do what I'm doing, came into me. There's a very nice feeling that there are many, many spirits inside of me looking after me . . . Votes: 5

We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. Votes: 4

I am where I am because I believe in all possibilities. Votes: 4

I am an artist, art has no color and no sex. Votes: 3

You know, be an actor because you love to act. Don't be an actor because you think you're going to get famous, because that's luck. Votes: 2

I don't have to be bam, bam, bam, funny when I'm working. I can tell stories, and there's some funny in them. Votes: 2

For some reason, all artists have self-esteem issues. Votes: 2

[On lightweight movies:] Fun movies. They were never meant to cure cancer, only to take away the mind. Votes: 2

I have witnessed things the ancients would have called miracles, but they are not miracles. They are the products of someone's dream, and they happen as the result of hard work. Votes: 0

I want Carl Sagan to explain the sky to me. Votes: 0

I don't think in terms of failure....I don't feel like anyone outside of me should be setting limitations. People should be encouraged to shoot for the moon. Votes: 0

Thank you, God, because I am lucky. Also let's face it, it turns out I'm black. And I'm having a career quite different from lots of people, so I feel doubly lucky. Votes: 0

If every American donated five hours a week, it would equal the labor of twenty million full-time volunteers. Votes: 0

I fear waking up one morning and finding out my life was all for nothing. We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. When you're kind to someone in trouble, you hope they remember and are kind to someone else and so on. Soon it will be like a wildfire.... Votes: 0

I don't believe that there is any good career move or bad career move. I believe there are only the things that make me happy. Votes: 0

Most of all, I dislike this idea nowadays that if you're a black person in America, then you must be called African-American. Listen, I've visited Africa, and I've got news for everyone: I'm not an African. Votes: 0

We're born with success. It is only others who point out our failures, and what they attribute to us as failure. Votes: 0

When I was doing ensemble theater and comedy work, I felt I had some talents. But when I started doing my shows in Berkeley and found that I could be funny on my own, I was shocked. Votes: 0

All I really want to do is just keep acting, and some of it will stink, and some of it will be really good, and maybe when I'm 85 and presenting an Oscar like Bette Davis did, I can look back and say, 'It was okay, I did all right.' Votes: 0

It bums me out tremendously what the church has become, and if it's got me bummed, imagine what Jesus Christ must be feeling. Votes: 0

I'm a big old egotistical baby and that's okay. I can accept it. Votes: 0

Born ham, that's basically me. Votes: 0

Things happen to you out of luck, and if you get to stick around it's because you're talented. Votes: 0

It's being willing to walk away that gives you strength and power - if you're willing to accept the consequences of doing what you want to do. Votes: 0

[On her monologue as the thief 'Fontaine':] People always got things. People always want things. So I provide a service. Votes: 0

[On writing to Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple:] I told her I would play a Venetian blind, dirt on the floor, anything. Votes: 0

[The original Sister Act] is running all over the world now, on-stage as a musical. It lives! Votes: 0

Children are a quality of life ... when our children are happy, then we are better as human beings. Votes: 0

Chocolate and candy. That's what we brought in to our friends. We worked in East Berlin with other artists who were smuggled out to come work in the Western Bloc. It was extraordinary because people [in East Berlin] just wanted to know what was happening. Music. Fashion. The news. All of the things we get every day. Votes: 0

Did you know children are dying because of AIDS. Missing the medicines that prevent transmission from mother to child. Missing the protection from parents teachers and role models that can teach them about the danger, and keep them safe from sexual exploitation. Children are missing your support. Unite for children. Unite against AIDS. Votes: 0

Did you know that we are the only people in the United States who have to have their voting rights okayed every couple of years? Votes: 0

Everything for me is visual. That's just how my head works. Votes: 0

Her least favorite thing: VOLUNTARY IGNORANCE Votes: 0

I always wore sneakers when I wanted to. It was always about being comfortable and being myself. Votes: 0

I believe strongly that most people in this country [U.S] don't want [a totalitarian state]...And when conservatives say, "Get the government out of my backyard," the reality is, you can't say that and put somebody in the White House who's gonna be in your business. Votes: 0

I dig being a mother... Votes: 0

I don't like driving very much. That makes me very unhappy, because I scream a lot in the car, but other than that, life is actually pretty good. Votes: 0

I don't really view communism as a bad thing. Votes: 0

I eat eight bags of chips in one sitting, and then nothing for a day or two. I learned that my body thought it was starving, so it would hold on to fat. Votes: 0

I grew up in a time when it would never have occurred to anyone to tell me there was anything I couldn't do. Votes: 0

I had such a good time doing that movie [Sister Act 2]. My daughter's in that movie. It was a fun film to do. And it shocked a lot of people, because they loved it, and they take it with them. Votes: 0

I have a [production] company, and we work with [reality TV producers] 44 Blue. They asked if we'd like to get involved. When they explained that it was the first transgender modeling agency, we said, "Yeah, of course!" Votes: 0

I have the strangest time to get cast in anything. 'Ghost' was the same thing. Six months I had to wait for them to decide they had seen everybody possible. Why not? What limits me? I'm black? Oh, am I black? Votes: 0

I say if you're worried, vote smart. Vote smart. Votes: 0

I think because I've gotten permission from my style icons like Tim Gunn and AndrÃ© Leon Talley, who say to me, "You don't need to dress like anyone else, because you're your own fashion icon. You represent comfortable. And you do fashion your way, and you should be at Fashion Week." They gave me permission to enjoy it! And it's great! Votes: 0

I won once [an Oscar]. So it can't be that racist. Votes: 0

I'd like everyone to imagine a world where you get a job as Tom, and then the next day you're Tina. Imagine you're in the world where you love what you do, but people say that you can't be who you are. Votes: 0

I'd like somebody to get rid of the death tax. That's what I want. I don't want to get taxed just because I died. I just don't think it's right. If I give something to my kid, I already paid the tax. Why should I have to pay it again because I died? Votes: 0

If I was doing a talk show, I would do the kind of show that comes on just once a month, with amazing guests. Votes: 0

If there wasn't something called acting, they would probably hospitalize people like me. Votes: 0

If you can handle the fact that people are going to be mad at you when you do what you think is right, you'll be alright. Votes: 0

If You don't like Gay Marriage, Don't Marry a Gay Person. Votes: 0

If you don't look out for others, who will look out for you? Votes: 0

If you get a little gassy, you've got to let it go. So people used to say to me, 'You're like a whoopee cushion.' Votes: 0

If you read to me I could tell you everything that was read. They didn't know what it was. They knew I wasn't lazy, but what was it? Votes: 0

If you're not sure how you feel about same-sex marriage, go and meet some of the families and see what they're looking for. Once you take it out of the caricature of what gay people are and what gay marriage is, and put it in the reality of family and what these folks are fighting for, it's really amazing. Votes: 0

If you're willing to stand for what you believe in ... you won't need advice from me, because you will be able to handle whatever comes. Votes: 0

I'm fighting the label of 'Black' actress simply because it's very limiting in people's eyes, especially people who are making movies. Votes: 0

In the dark times, if you have something to hold on to, which is yourself, you'll survive. Votes: 0

It never occurs to me that there are things I can't do. Votes: 0

It you want to be somebody, If you want to go some where, you've got to wake up and pay attention Votes: 0

I've learned to take time for myself and to treat myself with a great deal of love and respect, because I like me.. I think I'm kind of cool. Votes: 0

Just call me black, if you want to call me anything. Votes: 0

Most women do not have [abortions] with some sort of party going on. It is the hardest decision that a woman ever has to make . . . One of the reasons we've had to make this decision is because so many women were found bleeding, dead, with hangers in their bodies because they were doing it themselves. The idea of this was to make it safe and clean - that was the reason the law came into effect. Votes: 0

My mother's great. She has the major looks. She could stop you from doing anything, through a closed door even, with a single look. Without saying a word, she has that power to rip out your tonsils. Votes: 0

No matter what you say to yourself, you do want to win. You try to look casual, like you're not thinking, 'oh, please pick me.' Votes: 0

Normal is just a cycle on the washing machine. Votes: 0

Now, I've always known that there were bullies in the world. We've seen a lot of it in politics lately as well as in daily life. You see it where people who may be stronger, or bigger, or better with verbiage than other folks... show off. To me, that's what bullying is, showing off. It's saying, I'm better than you, I can take you down. Not just physically, but emotionally. Votes: 0

Really, darling, it's a no-brainer. You know, I understand not everybody is for gay marriage. But if you're not for gay marriage, don't marry a gay person. That's what I say Votes: 0

Should I be worried about being a slave and being returned to slavery? Because certain things happened in the Constitution that had to change. Votes: 0

Sometimes experience trumps assumption. Votes: 0

Taking action is hard, but know what? Enduring a bad situation can be its own hell. Votes: 0

Taliban-esque: Any behavior that imposes the beliefs of one person on everyone else. Conversations with the Taliban-esque are impossible. They aren't even conversations. With them, it's my way or no way. Votes: 0

The Africans know I'm not an African. I'm an American. Votes: 0

The art of acting is to be other than what you are. Votes: 0

The people who can be helping to make movies that have blacks and Latinos and women and all that - that movie doesn't come to you. Because the idea is that there's no place for black movies. Votes: 0

There are times when I haven't been proud of America or really proud. But there have been times that I've been incredibly proud of the country. Votes: 0

We have a lot of trans friends. We know lots of people who have been trying to [model]; we know a lot about it. Votes: 0

Well, one of the things we felt was missing from the greater conversation is that transgender people have been living and working in America for years...People may think it's a "new" thing; it's not...So we wanted to show not just the political side, which is what you see with Caitlyn Jenner. And not the other side with Laverne Cox, who's great. Votes: 0

We're dealing with old issues that aren't ours. We carry them and we pass them on to those who come after us. I am hoping to crack some of those. Votes: 0

What I am is a humanist before anything - before I'm a Jew, before I'm black, before I'm a woman. And my beliefs are for the human race - they don't exclude anyone. Votes: 0

What we're doing is not just about becoming a model. It's bigger than that. It's shining a spotlight on folks who know who they are. They know what they want to do. And in terms of modeling, they're already working. They know what they're doing! They're fantastic! Votes: 0

When I forget how talented God is, I look to the sea. Votes: 0

When I was 9 years old, Star Trek came on... Votes: 0

When I was a kid they didn't call it dyslexia. They called it you know, you were slow, or you were retarded, or whatever. What you can never change is the effect that the words 'dumb' and 'stupid' have on young people. I knew I wasn't stupid, and I knew I wasn't dumb. My mother told me that. If you read to me, I could tell you everything that you read. They didn't know what it was. They knew I wasn't lazy, but what was it? Votes: 0

Who amongst us doesn't want to be a hero? Votes: 0

You couldn't always trust the history books. They told a diluted truth, a truth by committee. Votes: 0

You don't want to think something might be racist, but it might be, because your gut is telling you it is Votes: 0

You have to believe in yourself in spite of what other people believe. Votes: 0

You know what? I think the American people are a little pissed, and I think they're pissed at both parties - I think they're really pissed at both parties - and it will be reflected during election time... Votes: 0

You've got to vote for someone. It's a shame, but it's got to be done. Votes: 0

Top quotes by Whoopi Goldberg

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