“Stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.”

“To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funnybone.”

“As a little girl, I would always ask my grandmother what it would take to be successful in life. … She said all you need are the three bones: the wishbone, the jawbone, and the backbone. The wishbone would keep you hoping and praying because hope is the motivator, but the dream is the driver. The jawbone will give you courage to speak truth to power, lift your voice — it should matter that you’re in the room, that you’re in that space with that voice. The backbone … will give you courage to stand through all of your trials and tribulations.”

“No! You don't wear a hat on your gentles! You wear a hat on your head where you're supposed to wear a hat!”

“To wear your heart on your sleeve isn't a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.”

“Your success stops where your character stops. You can never rise above the limitations of your character.”

“Poetry puts starch in your backbone so you can stand, so you can compose your life.”

“Where there's no stop and go
a thought may wet your face,
a breath arrest your stare.”

“For your own good, for the good of your family and your future, grow a backbone. When something is wrong, stand up and say it is wrong, and don't back down.”

“If you could stop thinking, letting go of trying control your world w/your mind, where would your attention go?”