As much as I try, when I open my mouth, Lena comes out, And I get so mad. — Lena Horne

After I got over the terrible pain of having something of mine taken from me, I began to think how bad everybody else must be feeling. It wasn’t a nice time. — Lena Horne

The best thing about living… Is the chance to keep on doing it! — Lena Horne

I was lucky, as many of my generation was, in having a man like Dr. King in our lives. He came at a time that we needed to take a long look at each other and see how similar we were. — Lena Horne

I’ve seen so much. And I’ve heard so many great performers. There are performers now that couldn’t work back in the days when I came along. — Lena Horne

My identity is very clear to me now, I am a black woman. — Lena Horne

Don’t be afraid to feel as angry or as loving as you can, because when you feel nothing, it’s just death. — Lena Horne

I found out along the way that they like you a little imperfect. — Lena Horne

Always be smarter than the people who hire you. — Lena Horne

I’m still learning, you know. At 80, I feel there is a lot I don’t know. — Lena Horne

Every color I can think of and nationality, we were all touched by Dr. King because he made us like each other and respect each other. — Lena Horne

In my early days I was a sepia Hedy Lamarr. Now I’m black and a woman, singing my own way. — Lena Horne

Count Basie isn’t just a man, or even just a band. He’s a way of life. — Lena Horne

I don’t have to be an imitation of a white woman that Hollywood sort of hoped I’d become. I’m me, and I’m like nobody else. — Lena Horne

Malcolm X made me very strong at a time I needed to understand what I was angry about. He had peace in his heart. He exerted a big influence on me. — Lena Horne

Nobody black or white who really believes in democracy can stand aside now; everybody’s got to stand up and be counted. — Lena Horne

You wouldn’t be allowed to get on a particular bus, but you’d be asked to sign your autograph. — Lena Horne

A little nepotism never hurt nobody, honey. If you got it, use it. Press on with it. Remind them of it. — Lena Horne

I really do hate to sing. — Lena Horne

You have to be taught to be second class; you’re not born that way. But the slanting process is so subtle that you frequently don’t realize how you’re being slanted until very late in the game. — Lena Horne

Malcolm X raised my consciousness about myself and my people and other people more than any person I know. I knew him before he became Malcolm X. — Lena Horne

I’m not alone, I’m free. I no longer have to be a credit, I don’t have to be a symbol to anybody; I don’t have to be a first to anybody. — Lena Horne

It’s ill–becoming for an old broad to sing about how bad she wants it. But occasionally we do. — Lena Horne

I thought of singing and acting as a living–making. I was able to take care of myself and a few of my friends. — Lena Horne

It’s so nice to get flowers while you can still smell the fragrance. — Lena Horne

I remember the day tDr. King died. I wasn’t angry at the beginning. It was like something very personal in my life had been touched and finished. — Lena Horne

I want to sing like Aretha Franklin. Before her I wanted the technical ability of Ella Fitzgerald. — Lena Horne

I told them I belong to the same organizations and clubs Mrs. Roosevelt belongs to, but with a few brave exceptions, I was still unable to do films or television for the next seven years. — Lena Horne