Aretha Louise Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. She known as one of the most influential singers of all time, and as an activist who spoke of the world through her music, and used music as a tool for truth, justice, and soul. Inspirational Aretha Franklin quotes will help you to gain confidence, motivate you to live your best life and change the World.
If you’re searching for famous quotations about life that perfectly capture what you’d like to say or just want to feel inspired yourself, browse through an amazing collection of amazing John Lennon quotes, famous Beyonce quotes, and inspirational Frank Sinatra quotes.
Famous Aretha Franklin Quotes
Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift. Aretha Franklin
Women absolutely deserve respect. Aretha Franklin
You cannot define a person on just one thing. You can’t just forget all these wonderful and good things that a person has done because one thing didn’t come off the way you thought it should come off. Aretha Franklin
I think women and children and older people are the three least respected groups in our society. Aretha Franklin
My mentor was Clara Ward of the famous Ward gospel singers of Philadelphia. And my dad was my coach. He coached me. And just my natural love for music is what drove me. Aretha Franklin
I’ve been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well. Aretha Franklin
I’m a big woman. I need big hair. Aretha Franklin
If you disrespect everybody that you run into, how in the world do you think everybody’s supposed to respect you? Aretha Franklin
I guess I could’ve been a prima ballerina. Or a nurse. Aretha Nightingale! Aretha Franklin
I think it would be a far greater world if people were kinder and more respectful to each other. Aretha Franklin
I didn’t really want to sing at first, but my dad insisted that I do. Aretha Franklin
People walking around everyday Playing games, taking score Trying to make other people lose their minds Ah, be careful you don’t lose yours. Aretha Franklin
I think it would be a far greater world if people were kinder and more respectful to each other. Aretha Franklin
Better friends than lovers. Sugar can’t you see? You need you and I really need me. Aretha Franklin
If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about. Aretha Franklin
Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off. Aretha Franklin
Everybody wants respect. In their own way, three year olds would like respect, and acknowledgment, in their terms. Aretha Franklin
The love of my life? I’m much too young to answer that question. Aretha Franklin
You have singers that are trained, and then you have natural singers people that, in my opinion, were just born to sing. And hopefully, I am one of them. Aretha Franklin
Men have always been gentlemen to me, responsible people with healthy attitudes. Aretha Franklin
I’ve done the Kennedy Center many times. I’ve sang for Marian Anderson. I’ve sang for Marion Williams. I’ve sang for Lionel Hampton. Aretha Franklin
My faith always has been and always will be important to me. Aretha Franklin
I’ve met my share of guys who have insulted and assaulted my intelligence with their stories and games. I say hello and goodbye! Aretha Franklin
It’s hard. When you love food, and when you’ve done a high energy concert, you know, a carrot is not gonna work. Aretha Franklin
Beyonce is very outspoken on feminist issues. So I think that’s good. That could be brought to the forefront more. Aretha Franklin
Let’s start with the church. As you know, it’s my background, it’s a natural setting for me and it’s definitely my roots. Aretha Franklin
Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off. Aretha Franklin
Who hasn’t had a weight issue? If not the body, certainly the big head! Aretha Franklin
My faith always has been and always will be important to me. Aretha Franklin
When God loves you, what can be better than that? Aretha Franklin
The duet with Frank Sinatra, What Now My Love, is one of my favorites. Aretha Franklin
I like Bootylicious, Survivor my little granddaughter loves Survivor. Aretha Franklin
I sing to the realists. People who accept it like it is. Aretha Franklin
Sometimes, what you’re looking for is already there. Aretha Franklin
As a parent you try to maintain a certain amount of control and so you have this tug of war You have to learn when to let go. And that’s not easy. Aretha Franklin
Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well. Aretha Franklin
Always semi retire, never retire who wants to just sit somewhere? I’m a people person and I love performing. It’s the way it is and the way it’s going to be. Aretha Franklin
Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it. Aretha Franklin
That makes it all worthwhile, just to know I uplifted another person; I wouldn’t be doing anything else. In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal, universal and transporting. Aretha Franklin
Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away! Aretha Franklin
Every birthday is a gift. Every day is a gift. Aretha Franklin
In terms of helping people understand and know each other a little better, music is universal universal and transporting. Aretha Franklin
Be your own artist, and always be confident in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to be confident, you might as well not be doing it. Aretha Franklin
Sam Cooke had a huge influence on me. He left the gospel field at one point and went into the secular, and he had this huge hit, You Send Me. Irma, my older sister, and I heard You Send Me on the radio while we were driving through the South one night. We had to stop the car. We got out and danced around the car out on the highway. Aretha Franklin
My generation, we came along, we had to really know our craft. Aretha Franklin
Music changes, and I’m gonna change right along with it. Aretha Franklin
Don’t say Aretha is making a comeback, because I’ve never been away! Aretha Franklin
People are not as nice as they used to be. There used to be a time when we conversed. You don’t get a lot of real responses now. They used to be more polite and well mannered people, generally. It’s minimal now. Aretha Franklin
Women have broken through the glass ceiling, and they’re now more and more in the power seats. Aretha Franklin
Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that. Aretha Franklin
Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don’t, it hurts even more. Aretha Franklin
I sing to the realists; people who accept it like it is. Aretha Franklin
I’m a big woman. I need big hair. Aretha Franklin
I like writing and don’t confine myself to just the words or just the music. But I don’t particularly write songs with myself in mind. Aretha Franklin
Sometimes, what you’re looking for is already there. Aretha Franklin
Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me. Aretha Franklin
The milk of kindness flows through my body, I shall follow Jesus to the Taco Bell and give thanks. Aretha Franklin
Christmases past, my sister Carolyn and I we’d been waiting for Santa all night. Nothing! Where is this man? Aretha Franklin
People really don’t have to give you anything, so appreciate what people give you. Aretha Franklin
I always felt rock and roll was very, very wholesome music. Aretha Franklin
I don’t feel one’s personal medical condition is everybody’s business. It just isn’t something you advertise, and it’s not open to discussion. Aretha Franklin
As long as it’s good music. I love all music. It’s got to be constructed properly. Aretha Franklin
Trying to grow up is hurting. You make mistakes. You try to learn from them, and when you don’t, it hurts even more. Aretha Franklin
I’m not ever going to retire. That’s that wouldn’t be good, for one, just to go somewhere and sit down and do nothing. Please. No, that’s not moi. Aretha Franklin
I remember singing around the house to records that were playing. All kinds of music. And the great James Cleveland was often in our house, and I grew up with his sound as well. Aretha Franklin
Beyonce is a very hard working woman. Astrologically, for whatever it’s worth, she’s a Virgo like Michael Jackson, a hard worker. Aretha Franklin
It’s very satisfying. To perform the way you want to. And the way you know that you can. Aretha Franklin
I love producing, writing. I rarely write with other writers unless I have a real great respect for them. Like Burt Bacharach, or Carole Sager, or Stevie Wonder. Somebody like Smokey like that. Otherwise, I choose to write alone. Aretha Franklin
Politics are not my arena. Music is. Aretha Franklin
I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It’s very, very gratifying. Aretha Franklin
Soul is a constant. It’s cultural. It’s always going to be there, in different flavors and degrees. Aretha Franklin
I’ve never recorded anything I didn’t like. Aretha Franklin
If a song’s about something I’ve experienced or that could’ve happened to me it’s good. But if it’s alien to me, I couldn’t lend anything to it. Because that’s what soul is all about. Aretha Franklin
We all require and want respect, man or woman, black or white. It’s our basic human right. Aretha Franklin
Being the Queen is not all about singing and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well. Aretha Franklin
We’ve come a long way, but there is still a lot of discrimination. Aretha Franklin
Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that. Aretha Franklin
Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening. Aretha Franklin
It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I’ve done my job. Aretha Franklin
I was in my dad’s church, his Baptist church, and I think the first song I ever performed was Jesus Be a Fence Around Me. Aretha Franklin
I am doing what I love to do, and you cannot beat that, especially when the audience appreciates what you prepare for them. It’s very, very gratifying. Aretha Franklin
I don’t do crazy things I just don’t. Aretha Franklin
We didn’t have music videos. You weren’t an overnight sensation. You had to work at it and learn your craft how to take care of your voice, how to pace your concerts, all that trial and error. Aretha Franklin
When God loves you, what can be better than that? Aretha Franklin
Parents have to really talk to their children before they leave home. Aretha Franklin
It really is an honor if I can be inspirational to a younger singer or person. It means I’ve done my job. Aretha Franklin
Gospel goes with me wherever I go. Gospel is a constant with me. Aretha Franklin
I love Anne of Green Gables. I have for years. That’s one of my favourite things. She’s such a can do kind of girl; that’s why I’m crazy about her. Aretha Franklin
I was in my dad’s church, his Baptist church, and I think the first song I ever performed was Jesus Be A Fence Around Me. Aretha Franklin
I’ve been around long enough for people to know who I am and what my contributions are. They know me as more than just an artist. I think they know me as a woman as well. Aretha Franklin
Now, occasionally I will still have that quarter pounder because I love fast food, but you have to keep it to a minimum. Aretha Franklin
I’m the lady next door when I’m not on stage. Aretha Franklin
And I was booked once to go on Ed Sullivan and I got bumped and ran out the back door crying. Aretha Franklin
Let’s start with the church. As you know, it’s my background, it’s a natural setting for me and it’s definitely my roots. Aretha Franklin
