Diana Ross Quotes

Powerful Diana Ross for Daily Growth

About Diana Ross

Diana Ross (born Diana Ernestine Earle Ross on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan) is an iconic American singer, actress, and record producer who has made significant contributions to popular music spanning over five decades. Known for her powerful voice, fashion sense, and electrifying stage presence, Ross rose to prominence as the lead singer of the supreme Motown group The Supremes before embarking on a successful solo career. Born into a large family in Detroit's Brewster-Douglas housing projects, Ross developed an early love for music and began performing at local talent shows. She joined forces with Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard to form The Supremes in 1959, a group that would go on to become Motown Records' most successful act. With chart-topping hits such as "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," "Stop! In the Name of Love," and "You Can't Hurry Love," Ross cemented her status as one of Motown's leading vocalists. In 1967, Ross was named the first African-American female to host a variety television series, The Doris Day Show, paving the way for future black women in entertainment. In 1970, she left The Supremes and embarked on her solo career, achieving massive success with albums such as Diana Ross (1970), Everything is Everything (1970), Surrender (1971), Touch Me in the Morning (1973), and Lady Sings the Blues (1972). Her most iconic single, "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," was released during this period. Ross's career has also encompassed successful acting roles, including starring as Billie Holiday in Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), The Wiz (1978), and double Academy Award-winning film, Silkwood (1983). Ross was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of The Supremes. Today, Ross continues to perform and is recognized as one of the most successful female artists in history, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide. Her influence on popular music and fashion remains undeniable, inspiring countless artists and influencing generations.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I've worked very hard and I've been blessed and I've been lucky."

This quote by Diana Ross conveys that she has achieved her success through diligent work (hard), good fortune (blessed), and favorable circumstances (lucky). She suggests that a combination of personal effort, good luck, and favorable conditions has contributed to her career and life achievements.


"I think you learn from everything; there is no such thing as waste."

Diana Ross suggests that every experience, regardless of its perceived value or outcome, offers opportunities for learning and growth. Nothing is ever truly wasted if we can extract valuable insights from it. This perspective encourages a mindset of continuous learning and resilience, enabling individuals to adapt and thrive in various situations.


"You can't please everyone, including myself."

This quote highlights a fundamental truth about human nature - it is impossible to satisfy everyone's expectations or desires. Diana Ross acknowledges this reality, not only for herself but also for others. By admitting that she too cannot always meet her own expectations, she underscores the need for self-acceptance and understanding, as well as recognizing that we should prioritize our own happiness and wellbeing above others' opinions.


"Success will never be a mystery to you. Whenever you point your finger at a successful person, remember that behind it are three more pointing back at you."

This quote by Diana Ross emphasizes the idea that success is not a mysterious quality reserved for a select few; rather, it can be found within ourselves when we recognize our own potential and take action towards achieving our goals. It suggests that when we look up to someone who has achieved success, we should remember that behind their accomplishments lie our own untapped abilities. In other words, if we point at successful people, there are three fingers pointing back at us as a reminder of our own capacity for success. This quote serves as inspiration to strive towards our dreams and to believe in ourselves.


"I want people to know who I am. I'm just a person who has dreams and hopes and fears and loves and losses, just like everybody else."

Diana Ross expresses her humanity in this quote. She conveys that despite being a well-known figure, she shares common emotions and experiences with ordinary people - dreams, hopes, fears, love, and loss. This shows her relatability and vulnerability, emphasizing the shared nature of human experiences regardless of status or fame.


They tell me that it will be hard to find a man strong enough to love my own strength and independence, and not worry about being Mr. Diana Ross, but I disagree. I know absolutely that that man is somewhere out there.

- Diana Ross

Love, Strength, Strong, My Own

You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself.

- Diana Ross

Wait, Give, Happen, Golden

Criticism, even when you try to ignore it, can hurt. I have cried over many articles written about me, but I move on and I don't hold on to that .

- Diana Ross

Over, Move, About, Hurt

It has always been, and still is, my intention to build a playground in Central Park.

- Diana Ross

Always, Been, Still, Park

I want an autobiography without revealing any personal information.

- Diana Ross

Personal, Want, Revealing, Personal Information

I was looking at making a shift in my career. I've been so blessed I'd like to be able to give that back. If I could find young artists, young performers I can nurture to have a career I would really like that.

- Diana Ross

Career, Young, Been, Nurture

My life has often been described as 'from rags to riches,' but in fact, the Rosses were never raggedy.

- Diana Ross

My Life, Fact, Been, Rags

I just appreciate still having the longevity that I've had in my career.

- Diana Ross

Career, Still, Having, Longevity

I was brought up in this part of Detroit that they used to call the ghetto.

- Diana Ross

Call, Part, Brought, Detroit

With the Supremes I made so much money so fast all I wanted to do was buy clothes and pretty things. Now I'm comfortable with money and it's comfortable with me.

- Diana Ross

Pretty, Made, Pretty Things, So Much Money

I'd traveled a lot, was going temporarily insane and became very successful, but there was no one to take that all home to.

- Diana Ross

Going, Very, Became, Temporarily

Icon. What is an icon? When someone is iconic it means they have established a certain kind of legacy possibly, and I think it does come with time. It's something in the arts, I feel. Maybe not, maybe it doesn't have to be in the arts exactly. I'm not really sure. But I don't think you are born an icon.

- Diana Ross

Legacy, Maybe, I Think, Possibly

It takes a long time to get to be a diva. I mean, you gotta work at it.

- Diana Ross

Long Time, Mean, Gotta, Diva

I'm not really a songwriter - I'm an interpreter. So in a sense I am an actress first and foremost. I act out the songs, and I lead with my heart.

- Diana Ross

Sense, Actress, Foremost, Interpreter

The first time I heard a Billie Holiday record, I thought, 'What's so great about Billie Holiday?'

- Diana Ross

Thought, Holiday, About, None

Instead of looking at the past, I put myself ahead twenty years and try to look at what I need to do now in order to get there then.

- Diana Ross

Past, Need, Ahead, Twenty

I think a responsibility comes with notoriety, but I never think of it as power. It's more like something you hold, like grains of sand. If you keep your hand closed, you can have it and possess it, but if you open your fingers in any way, you can lose it just as quickly.

- Diana Ross

I Think, Quickly, Your, Open

You know, you do need mentors, but in the end, you really just need to believe in yourself.

- Diana Ross

Mentors, Know, Need, In The End

I'm a parent, and I try to take care of my health and keep my life in order. In the last few years I've really had to decide what's important to me, and it seems to me that my family and my health are top on the list. And those have nothing to do with show business.

- Diana Ross

Parent, My Life, Show, Order

So I'm not worried about the emotions I carry with me, because I'm happy that I have them; I think it's good for the work I do. The emotions that are not healthy are the ones you hold inside, like anger.

- Diana Ross

Think, Emotions, I Think, Worried

I look forward to the future - and going into the studio to make new music.

- Diana Ross

Music, New, Studio, New Music

No, nothing really upsets me.

- Diana Ross

Me, Nothing, Really, Upsets

I don't judge people by their sexual orientation or the color of their skin, so I find it really hard to identify someone by saying that they're a gay person or a black person or a Jewish person.

- Diana Ross

Orientation, Jewish Person, Gay

Years ago I wanted to buy an apartment in New York City. I was a single female - I had gone through my divorce - I had three children, I was in show business and black. It was, like, impossible.

- Diana Ross

City, Through, Buy, Divorce

I even thought of adopting a child as a single mother.

- Diana Ross

Mother, Thought, Single, Adopting

People don't know about the human part of me that really cares about the world. For instance, I don't know what I feel about wearing my furs anymore. I worked so hard to have a fur coat, and I don't want to wear it anymore because I'm so wrapped up in the animals. I have real deep thoughts about it because I care about the world and nature.

- Diana Ross

Deep, Fur, Instance, I Care

My travels led me to where I am today. Sometimes these steps have felt painful, difficult, but led me to greater happiness and opportunites.

- Diana Ross

Sometimes, Difficult, Felt, Painful

If I'm with a man I'm soft and buttery.

- Diana Ross

Man, Soft

My family called me a wiggle tail because I was a little skinny, wiry kid full of energy.

- Diana Ross

Me, Kid, Tail, Wiggle

It's the first time I have returned to my roots - like going back to be a trio. The fans really wanted me to go back on stage and do the Supremes music, so I went about trying to make it happen. We'll go on tour in the summer.

- Diana Ross

Summer, Back, About, Tour

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