No one intimidates me because I'm not trying to do what you do, because I can't do what you do. I can only do what Mary J. Blige can do, so that relaxes me right there, and it gets me out of the competition and that whole thing.

There are people out there who want to provoke me and bring back the old Mary but I'm not giving them the satisfaction.

I cannot save the world; that's not what I'm trying to do. I guess I'm just trying to walk the walk and be an example to those that want it. Not everybody does, but if Mary J. Blige can come out of that same hole you were in, then you can do it, too - that's my goal: to do that without saying it, but actually live it.

You can hate me. You can go out there and say anything you want about me, But you will love me later because I told you the truth.

It hurts when you have to smile and you don't want to smile, but the best thing to do is to smile.

The younger Mary J. Blige, I would call her, she was very unaware, ignorant.