Cytaty Janet

Justine

You don't have to hold onto the pain to hold onto the memory

We all have the need to feel special

In complete darkness, it is only knowledge and wisdom that separates us

[recalling the day her father told her to stop calling him Dad] I will never forget that. I was really young, about 6 or 7, and as a kid, that was very hurtful to me. I went through a lot, from age 15 to about 19 years. I was very young. I used to hurt so badly that I'd ask God, "Why, what have I done to deserve this?"

[on her 1997 recording "The Velvet Rope"] We're all driven to premieres or nightclubs and seen the rope separating those who can enter and those who can't. Well, there's also a velvet rope we have inside of us, keeping others from knowing our feelings. In this album I'm trying to expose and explore those feelings. I'm inviting you inside my barrier. During my life I've been on both sides of the rope. At times, especially during my childhood, I felt left out and alone. At times I felt misunderstood . . . But no human heard those feelings expressed. They stayed buried in the past. But now the truth has to come out, and for me, the truth takes the form of a song.

[1993 interview in Rolling Stone] It made me so happy. On my song "Whoops Now,' I even used the lyrics, "I'm out in the sun having fun with my friends". There's also The Turtles' "Happy Together" and The Association's "Windy" and Simon and Garfunkel's "Feelin' Groovy". Those songs are all precious moments to me. They're about just plain feeling good.

I was very independent growing up, but there were things that were bothering me that I never told anybody. I would talk to our animals at home. We had fawns that Michael [brother Michael Jackson] and I raised until we weaned them and we'd feed them every morning. And I would talk to them . . . I felt they understood me. We had four dogs, and I would climb in the bushes and sit down and speak with them . . . and that's how I dealt with my life in the very, very beginning, when I was a kid.

I was never pushed into the religion by my mother or anyone else. I made up my own mind when I was old enough. I am not a religious person, but I am spiritual. But I don't believe in things like guilt. I believe in a higher power. I believe in inspiration.

[on Rene Elizondo] I've been very fortunate to have found someone who has been so incredibly caring . . . I don't think anybody else would have stuck around because I had some really difficult times . . . and I know he probably would wake up and say, "Okay, who is she today?" I think anyone else would have said, "You know what? I am out of here because I cannot take this". But he was there, right by my side the entire way.

I set out to please myself, hopefully in the end, the listeners will enjoy what I've created.

If I wasn't singing, I'd probably be, probably an accountant.

Dreams can become a reality when we possess a vision that is characterized by the willingness to work hard, a desire for excellence, and a belief in our right and our responsiblity to be equal members of society.

[on Jermaine Dupri] You know that it's something different when your whole family falls in love with him, when your brothers and sisters love him. And with me having eight brothers and sisters, there are some major eyes on him. And they all adore him. So that's really good.

[on people disapproving of Jermaine Dupri] People need to stay out of other people's business. Honestly, how can they say what is a good match for me and what is a good match for him? They really don't know us. That's for us to decide. They need to stay out of other's people's business and deal with their own issues.

Getting back to that child and giving the child what the child may have missed - the reassurance of a nourishing and accepting love, a love that says you are special - is hard work. It can be scary, but like the song says, we have to deal with the past to live completely -and freely - in the present.

Life is a journey, and I'm still walking it. And, like everyone, I'm going to have some days that are better than others, some days that are tougher than others. But I'm in a much happier place, the happiest place I've ever been in my life, and that's why it feels so good to me, finally being able to say I do like who I am.

We are a nation with no geographic boundaries, bound together through our beliefs, we are like minded individuals sharing a common vision, pushing toward a world rid of color lines.

To a world sick with racism, get well soon.

We had the kind of night were morning comes to soon....we used the light from a flickering candle across the room to make the kind of shadows that only one thing could make....love.

Pain like water it dry away so love come in without pain how can love think about.

I kinda see everyone as competition. I'm a very competitive person. But I think that's good. Competition is great. And as long as it's friendly and not a malicious thing, then I think it's cool.

I also experienced serious rejection. I auditioned for dozens of commercials, for example, but was never chosen. That might have devastated other children, but somehow my attitude was 'well if I don't get this one, I'll get the next'. Looking back, I see I had a built-in toughness.

There was also loneliness. I had few friends. Work consumed me. in some ways, it still does.

I was sheltered by my parents, work and school. I walked out into the world and saw things I'd only read about. I learned the hard way. It was scary, but I saw I had two choices - sink or swim. I swam. And discovered I could actually make it to the shore, all on my own. Not that I wasn't frightened or didn't experience moments of panic. I did.

Being from a famous family is a blessing. I'm challenged to live up to the expectations. I'm happy, grateful for what I've inherited and excited about what I want to contribute.

The pain is necessary. Sometimes pain is the teacher we require, a hidden gift of healing and hope.

After my disillusionment, I felt hollow inside, as though someone had scooped out my soul. It took a while, but deep within I discovered a core of determination I never knew existed. That's when I got serious about myself and my career. I saw what I needed to do, and I did it.

All kids rebel. My way was to dye my hair half pink and half blue. It was a mess.

Freedom means choices.

My dad taught us that there's no greater distance than that between first and second place.

Self-expression is my goal, I want to be real with my feelings. Singing and dancing-and all the joy that goes with performing- come from my heart. If I can't feel it, I won't do it.

A lot of times I felt so alone. But I also thought there has to be other people that have experienced either what I have, or close to it.