Lena Horne Quotations

Count Basie isn't just a man, or even just a band. He's a way of life.

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.

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.

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.

I really do hate to sing.

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

I had my schooling right there in the Cotton Club.

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

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.

I made a promise to myself to be kinder to other people.