When I was married, I wasn’t loving myself. Now I’m in love with myself. I will get married again. — Patti Labelle

I’m very shy in a crowd. — Patti Labelle

I know how to put it on when it comes to interviews and performing because I have to. But I’m pretty laid back. — Patti Labelle

I’m 60, and I did 60–year–old women songs. I’m not trying to be the Hip–Hop Queen, although I am the original Hip Hop Queen. — Patti Labelle

I never wanted to go on stage alone because if you mess up, who can you blame? — Patti Labelle

I keep showing decade after decade that I am a real performer. — Patti Labelle

I clean my house, although I have help. I’m on the floor getting spots. I can’t stand a dirty house. I’m a cleaning fanatic. — Patti Labelle

When I look into the crowd, I see young and old, black and white–it’s amazing that I’m able to connect with so many different kinds of people. — Patti Labelle

Anger is like the blade of a butcher knife–very difficult to hold on to for long without harming yourself. — Patti Labelle

Always respect yourself and don’t go out there disrespecting yourself. — Patti Labelle

I want to be remembered as a woman who was fair and always gave 150 percent, no matter what I did. — Patti Labelle

You’ve got to know business before you go to show business. — Patti Labelle

I’ve had 60 years of ups and downs, and all of the downs that I’ve had, I’m happy that I’ve had them because it’s taught me to appreciate all the ups. — Patti Labelle

When you take your troubles to God, you may have them but they don’t have you. — Patti Labelle

So if anybody wants to get me something, get me 60 crabs–one for each year. I don’t want no diamonds, I don’t want no shoes, I don’t want no party. I want some crabs. — Patti Labelle

You don’t have to be an angel, just be someone who can give. — Patti Labelle

I decided to always sing in the back with the chorus and never went up front because I had trouble performing. — Patti Labelle

Being honored at Berklee College of Music; I got a doctorate. I am Doctor Patti. — Patti Labelle

I think the race situation is getting better as far as people respecting each other goes. I think the race situation with entertainment is not that much better. — Patti Labelle

I was very shy. I’m still shy. — Patti Labelle

Women are strong now. Women are dominating the charts, and women are doing it for themselves. We’re kicking butt and taking no prisoners. — Patti Labelle

A diva is someone who is a perfectionist, who does her best in her craft. — Patti Labelle

I never thought I would be singing for the world. — Patti Labelle

I don’t feel as though I have to prove anything to anybody. — Patti Labelle

There’s not much longevity in music today. It’s so easy to go in, put some pretentious lyrics on, with people saying the same thing over and over and over. — Patti Labelle

All I can tell you really is if you get to the point where someone is telling you that you are not great or not good enough, just follow your heart and don’t let anybody crush your dream. — Patti Labelle

I like hip–hop music, but some of the lyrics make me want to cry. — Patti Labelle

I truly respect the people who are working. If they want an autograph from Patti LaBelle, they are going to get it. I have never separated myself from them. I never think you are better than the next one. — Patti Labelle

I’ve been shut down, run down, talked about, dogged out, but that never stopped me from the being the true me that’s here and will be here. — Patti Labelle

Once I stopped dwelling on what I didn’t have, on what I thought I was going to lose, and began to give freely, everything opened up for me. Everything began to flow into my life. — Patti Labelle

In matters of the heart it is always better to want something you don’t have than to have something you don’t want. — Patti Labelle

I’m so grounded, it’s sad. — Patti Labelle

I’m still standing up there tall and strong every night that I perform. — Patti Labelle

I’ll perform all the way to the grave. — Patti Labelle

So if diva means giving your best, then yes, I guess I am a diva. — Patti Labelle

That’s another lesson I’ve learned the hard way. All relationships will die if they aren’t nurtured. Just as a flower will die if it’s not watered. Because love is demonstration, not declaration. — Patti Labelle

Many a false step is made standing still. — Patti Labelle

All these little heifers who can’t sing are called ‘divas’. — Patti Labelle

I was a shy kid with a broom handle that I pretended was a microphone. — Patti Labelle

All I do is stay in the kitchen and cook. I don’t go there to party. — Patti Labelle

I have to go 150 percent or nothing at all. — Patti Labelle

I can’t do some of the songs that younger girls like Mary J. Blige and Beyonce are doing. They have their own place and I have my own place. — Patti Labelle