Aretha Franklin (1942-2018) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A pioneer of soul music, she is renowned for her powerful, emotive vocals and has been dubbed the “Queen of Soul.” Franklin was a prolific artist, releasing over 40 studio albums and over 100 singles during her career. She is best known for her classic soul hits, such as “Respect,” “Chain of Fools,” “Think,” and “I Say a Little Prayer.” She won 18 Grammy Awards and was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
| Name | Aretha Franklin |
| Genre | Soul, Gospel, R&B |
| Date of Birth | March 25, 1942 |
| Instruments | Vocals, Piano |
| Labels | Columbia, Atlantic, Arista |
| Awards | 20 Grammys, Presidential Medal of Freedom, Special Pulitzer Prize |
10 Best Aretha Franklin Quotes
“Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.”
– Aretha Franklin, from NPR
“R-E-S-P-E-C-T, find out what it means to me.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Harper’s Bazaar
“I feel that I have been a vessel, and God has chosen me to be one of his vessels, to do his work through music.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Rolling Stone
“You can’t give up. You have to keep pushing.”
– Aretha Franklin, from People
“It’s all about the music, that’s what it’s all about.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Vogue
“You have to find your own niche. That’s one of the most important things you can do.”
– Aretha Franklin, from PopSugar
“My faith always has been and always will be important to me.”
– Aretha Franklin, from The New York Times
“I started singing when I was about four years old. It was a natural gift.”
– Aretha Franklin, from CNN
“I always felt that if I kept giving, I would have something to give.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Biography.com
“I’m not a person who likes to complain or talk about illness. I just keep going.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Vanity Fair
5 Inspirational Aretha Franklin Quotes
“I think if a person has any goodness in them, they can’t really be all bad.”
– Aretha Franklin, from NPR
“You can’t go to school to learn how to sing soul. It’s something you have to feel.”
– Aretha Franklin, from CBS News
“I don’t think of myself as having a beautiful voice. It’s a serviceable voice.”
– Aretha Franklin, from NPR
“I just want to be remembered as a person who wanted to be of service.”
– Aretha Franklin, from BBC
“I’m really a believer in fate and destiny. I think that when one door closes, another door opens.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Oprah
7 Famous Aretha Franklin Quotes
“Being the Queen is not all about singing, and being a diva is not all about singing. It has much to do with your service to people. And your social contributions to your community and your civic contributions as well.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Biography.com
“I am very careful about what I say. I measure every word.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Rolling Stone
“I’m a competitive person, and I love to win.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Elle Magazine
“I have a very deep well and I draw from it.”
– Aretha Franklin, from The Guardian
“I’m no longer concerned with sensation. I’m more concerned with inspiration.”
– Aretha Franklin, from CNN
“I don’t have a philosophy of life. I have a philosophy of now.”
– Aretha Franklin, from GQ Magazine
“I’m a living witness that anything is possible.”
– Aretha Franklin, from USA Today
6 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Love
“You know, life without dreaming is a life without meaning. So you have to dream and you have to protect those dreams. Love is the way to do that.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Essence
“I am a strong believer in love. I think it’s one of God’s greatest gifts, one of the greatest feelings in the world.”
– Aretha Franklin, from People
“It’s so important to have love in your life and to accept love, to give love and to spread love.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Rolling Stone
“I’m so grateful for the love and the kindness I’ve experienced in my life.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Cosmopolitan
“Love is much more important than a musical career.”
– Aretha Franklin, from The Guardian
“The greatest gift of life is love, and I believe in that.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Interview Magazine
5 Aretha Franklin Quotes About Life
“Life is very challenging, very trying, but at the end of the day you have to hold onto faith.”
– Aretha Franklin, from BBC
“I have experienced a lot of sadness, but I remain hopeful.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Vogue
“I try to live my life with a purpose and some sort of mission.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Rolling Stone
“I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I’ve written for myself, and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part.”
– Aretha Franklin, from Oprah
“I wasn’t raised in a church, but I was raised with a strong connection to God.”
– Aretha Franklin, from The Guardian
5 Quotes About Aretha Franklin
“Aretha Franklin: the greatest singer of all time”
– Tom Jones, from Billboard
“Aretha Franklin is an incredible woman and an inspiration to so many people around the world”
– Alicia Keys, from Grammy
“Aretha was the embodiment of soul and a true queen of our time”
– Elton John, from The Guardian
“Aretha Franklin was an icon and an inspiration who helped to shape our world”
– Barack Obama, from The Washington Post
“Aretha Franklin’s voice was unique, her piano playing underrated — she was one of my favourite pianists”
– Quincy Jones, from The Guardian
Interview with Aretha Franklin
Frequently Asked Questions About Aretha Franklin
1. What are some of the most famous Aretha Franklin quotes?
- “Respect”
- “Think”
- “Ain’t No Way”
- “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow”
- “You Better Think”
- “You Send Me”
- “Chain of Fools”
- “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”
- “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”
- “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man”
- “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”
- “I Say a Little Prayer”
- “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”
- “Freeway of Love”
- “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?”
- “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”
- “Amazing Grace”
- “Jump to It”
- “I Will Survive”
- “I Dreamed a Dream”
- “The House That Jack Built”
- “Think”
Aretha Franklin was a legendary singer-songwriter who made an indelible mark on the music industry and left behind an incredible legacy. Her most famous songs such as “Respect,” “Think,” and “Ain’t No Way” are still beloved today. But her words also live on in many of her most famous quotes. Franklin was a vocal advocate for civil rights, women’s rights, and self-empowerment—themes that are reflected in her quotes. These are some of the most famous Aretha Franklin quotes:
“Respect”, “Think”, “Ain’t No Way”, “The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow”, “You Better Think”, “You Send Me”, “Chain of Fools”, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)”, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man”, “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”, “I Say a Little Prayer”, “Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”, “Freeway of Love”, “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?”, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”, “Amazing Grace”, “Jump to It”, “I Will Survive”, “I Dreamed a Dream”, “The House That Jack Built”, and “Think”.
Franklin’s quotes will continue to inspire generations to come. She was a true icon who left us with a lasting legacy that will never be forgotten.
2. How did Aretha Franklin’s quotes influence her music?
Aretha Franklin was known for her powerful voice and timeless music, but her quotes were also just as influential. Franklin had a way of expressing her emotions and thoughts through her words that resonated with her listeners. Here are some of the ways her quotes have influenced her music:
- Franklin emphasized self-love and empowerment. Many of her songs, such as “Respect”, “Ain’t No Way”, and “Think”, are anthems of women’s rights and self-confidence. Her quotes often reflected the same values and served as a basis for her music.
- The singer was known for speaking out against injustices. Her songs such as “Young, Gifted, and Black” and “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man” echoed her passion for civil rights and racial equality. Her quotes displayed the same sentiment and often served as an inspiration for her music.
- Aretha Franklin was never afraid to speak her mind. Her lyrics often reflected her unapologetic attitude towards life and her desire to live it to the fullest. Her quotes were no different, often representing her unwillingness to accept anything less than she deserved. This emboldening attitude was an integral part of her music.
Aretha Franklin’s words and music will continue to inspire future generations. Her quotes were an important part of her music, and they still resonate with people today.
3. What message did Aretha Franklin convey through her quotes?
Aretha Franklin was a powerful and inspirational woman whose words still carry a lot of weight today. Her quotes speak to a variety of topics, including empowerment, self-love, and strength. Here are some of the messages she conveyed through her quotes:
- Women’s empowerment: Franklin was an ardent supporter of female empowerment. She advocated for women to truly recognize their power and to use it to their advantage. “Women should always stand up for themselves and speak their minds,” she once said.
- Self-love: Franklin was a big proponent of self-love, believing it to be essential for personal growth and happiness. “We have to learn to love ourselves first, before we can love another,” she said.
- Strength: Franklin also believed in the power of strength and resilience. She encouraged people to never give up and to always persevere in the face of adversity. “We may not be able to control all that happens to us, but we can control what we do about it,” she said.
Through her quotes, Aretha Franklin was able to convey powerful messages of female empowerment, self-love, and strength that still resonate today.
4. How did Aretha Franklin’s quotes reflect her life experiences?
Aretha Franklin was an iconic singer, songwriter, and activist who was also an inspirational speaker. Her words of encouragement, advice, and guidance were reflective of her life experiences and the struggles she endured to become a successful artist. Here are a few of her most memorable quotes that serve as a reminder of her wisdom and resilience:
- “Being a singer is a natural gift. It means I’m using to the highest degree possible the gift that God gave me to use. I’m happy with that.”
- “You can’t just let nature take its course; you have to be at the helm and control it as much as you can.”
- “You have to learn to get up from the table when love is no longer being served.”
- “You have to be able to accept failure to get better.”
- “I’m no longer worried about the smaller things, I just want to do God’s will.”
- “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
- “The only thing that can defeat music is silence.”
These Aretha Franklin quotes are a testament to her strength and courage in the face of adversity. She was a powerful advocate for civil rights and women’s rights, and her words continue to inspire and influence people today. Her life experiences were unique and her quotes serve to remind us of how important it is to stand up for what is right, even in the face of opposition.
5. What impact did Aretha Franklin’s quotes have on society?
Aretha Franklin was an iconic figure of the 20th century, and her powerful words and messages have had a lasting impact on society. Her quotes have inspired many people to stand up for their rights, fight for justice, and never give up on their dreams. Here are some of the ways her words have had a positive impact on society:
- Her quotes have empowered people to be brave and stand up for their rights, no matter what their situation. She often spoke out against injustice and encouraged people to fight for what they believe in.
- Aretha Franklin’s quotes have encouraged people to never give up, no matter how hard things get. She often spoke about the importance of perseverance and how it can help us achieve our goals.
- Her uplifting words have given many people hope and courage during difficult times. Her quotes have provided comfort and support for those who are struggling, and her words have given people the strength to keep going.
- Aretha Franklin’s quotes have also inspired people to dream big and never stop believing in themselves. She often spoke about the importance of believing in yourself, and her words have encouraged many people to pursue their goals and aspirations.
- Finally, Aretha Franklin’s quotes have reminded us of the power of love and kindness. She often spoke about the importance of loving yourself and being kind to others, and her words have inspired many people to be more compassionate and understanding of those around them.
Aretha Franklin’s quotes have had a lasting impact on society, and they will continue to inspire generations to come. Her words have empowered people to be brave, never give up, and believe in themselves, and her messages of love and kindness will continue to spread throughout the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Aretha Franklin was an artist and musician who inspired generations of listeners with her powerful voice, soulful lyrics, and passionate performances. Her legacy is not just limited to her music, but her words and wisdom as well. Through her quotes, she continues to inspire people around the world to live and love with all their heart.
