Beyonce Knowles

“If everything was perfect, you would never learn and you would never grow.”

“There are a lot of things I never did, because I believe in watching those true Hollywood stories and I see how easy it is to lose track of your life.”

“I'm over being a pop star. I don't wanna be a hot girl. I wanna be iconic. And I feel like I've accomplished a lot. I feel like I'm highly respected, which is more important than any award or any amount of records. And I feel like there comes a point when being a pop star is not enough.”

“For me, it's about the way I carry myself and the way I treat other people. My relationship and how I feel about God and what He does for me, is something deeply personal. It's where I came from, my family, I was brought up in a religious household and that's very important to me.”

“I truly believe that women should be financially independent from their men. And let's face it, money gives men the power to run the show. It gives men the power to define value. They define what's sexy. And men define what's feminine. It's ridiculous.”

“I always try to be myself. Ever since I was an introverted kid, I'd get on stage and be able to break out of my shell.”

“There's my personal life, my sensitive side, and then me as a performer, sexy and energised and fun.”

“I grew up upper-class. Private school. My dad had a Jaguar. We're African-American, and we work together as a family, so people assume we're like the Jacksons. But I didn't have parents using me to get out of a bad situation.”

“I wanted to be famous for my music and my talent, and I always wished I could cut it out when I left the stage.”

“My style offstage is so different from onstage. I love a pair of sexy heels with jeans, a nice jacket, or a little dress.”

“I know I'm stronger in the songs than I really am. Sometimes I need to hear it myself. We all need to hear those empowering songs to remind us.”

“My focus is my art, and that's what I love to do. I have to be really passionate in order to do something. I've turned down many things that I just didn't believe in.”

“Whenever I'm confused about something, I ask God to reveal the answers to my questions, and he does.”

“I'm a people pleaser. I hold a lot of things in. I'm always making sure everybody is okay. I usually don't rage; I usually don't curse.”

“Tina Turner is someone that I admire, because she made her strength feminine and sexy.”

“The more successful I become, the more I need a man.”

“The great thing about McDonald's is that they have a lot of different things on the menu. I love their salads.”

“When I was writing the Destiny's Child songs, it was a big thing to be that young and taking control. And the label at the time didn't know that we were going to be that successful, so they gave us all control. And I got used to it.”

“If he invited you out, he's got to pay.”

“One of the reasons I connect to the Super Bowl is that I approach my shows like an athlete.”