Alanis Morissette
I've always been really opinionated, and mixed with being really open hearted, open to people shifting what I think all the time, but I like to speak with conviction.
A lot of preconceived notions that I had about fame and status and money and joy and pain, and all of these things that I thought I knew, I didn't.
I've been surrounded by a lot of people who felt that external success would result in them feeling good about themselves. But it just seems extremely unfulfilling to me.
For me, a life without expectation results in a life with inspiration.
I was so ready to become a mom. Actually, I was ready secondarily to become a mom. I was so ready to have the intimacy and commitment of marriage.
I couldn't be touring unless my husband was on the road with me, taking care of our son while I'm onstage and doing interviews.
In 1995, I was thrust into the role of reluctant, flag-waving feminist and emotionally-focused artist/advocate.
I love to get to the underbelly of why people are up in arms about anything. Really, what I see is a big shadow in the West, in America especially, and everyone's afraid of looking stupid. But the truth is, I'm a genius and I'm stupid at the same time.
I think a beautiful quality that's a biological, hormonal imperative for women, whether they have children or not, is that we're built to be empathic. For me, it was finally being maternal in an appropriate way instead of trying to mommy ex-boyfriends.
I don't want to offend people and I don't want to be mean, but social commentary and comedy for me are part and parcel. I think the greatest social activists are comedians.
I've just always felt it's an incredibly empowering thing, particularly for young women, to capitalize on their coordination and their strength. It's a very empowering thing to feel strong in your body.
My greatest achievement is being able to write records that are real snapshots of what's going on in my life. I won't repeat myself for the sake of commerce, or to please other people.
Variety is important when it comes to exercise. I don't do anything that bores me to tears.
I'll be writing records until I'm dead, whether people like it or not! I can't not write; if I don't, then I get really depressed. I'll keep going, I promise!
Knowing that people make my songs their own is what keeps me going.
I like to make pasta with puttanesca sauce and arugula salad.
I was 9 when I wrote 'Fate Stay with Me.' It was this fictional song about romance gone wrong.
I'd rather talk to people about their personal spiritual practices or what they believe love is. I'm born to do that. Could I enter into the political realm and dive into that? Sure, but I don't think I would want to do that.
Music helps you find the truths you must bring into the rest of your life.Collection: Music
Running has made being depressed impossible. If I'm going through something emotional and just go outside for a run, you can rest assured I'll come back with clarity.Collection: Running
Stay and respond and expand and include and allow and forgive and enjoy and evolve and discern and inquire and accept and admit and divulge and open and reach out and speak up, this is utopia.Collection: Philosophy
the truth of who we are is innate goodness, and the whole journey is really about removing any obstacle or false belief that keeps us from knowing thatCollection: Journey
I sabotage myself for fear of what my bigness could do.Collection: Low Self Esteem
Life has a funny way of helping you out when you think that everything's gone wrong.Collection: Philosophy
Once I know who I'm not, then I'll know who I am.Collection: Philosophy
A feeling is not bottomless. once felt all the way through,a great peace greets you thereCollection: Peace
Being a sensitive empath is a beautiful thing as an artist, and it fosters a deep burning curiosity about why we do the things we do.Collection: Beautiful
When pain brings you down, don't be silly, don't close your eyes and cry, you just might be in the best position to see the sun shine.Collection: Positive
In a perfect world, there would be no censorship, because there would be no judgement.Collection: Perfect
I'm sorry to myself, for treating me worse than I would anybody else.Collection: Sorry
I salute you for your courage, and I applaud your perseverance, and I embrace you for your faith in the face of adversarial forces.Collection: Inspirational
I rejected the God that was portrayed as masculine and judgmental and cruel at times. The concept of us bring not worthy to receive him is something I used to say every Sunday in church, and eventually I just couldn't say it with any conviction.Collection: Sunday
I never regret anything I do. It's part of who I am now, and I like who I am now.Collection: Regret
Some of the most beautiful things that have happened to me in my life have been things that I couldn't explain.Collection: Beautiful
A brave action is often followed by grief. Do not let my resistance to grief stop the brave action.Collection: Grief
If someone hates or loves something, then right on. I can't rob them of that. I'm not going to try and change their mind. Something's been triggered in them to react so emotionally.Collection: Hate
How about not equating death with stopping?Collection: Stopping
Oh these little rejections how they add up quickly, one small sideways look and I feel so ungood. Somewhere along the way I think I gave you the power to make me feel the way I thought only my father could.Collection: Father
Whether you’re checked in or checked out, you’re always on a spiritual journey.Collection: Spiritual
For the ocean is big and my boat is small. Find the courage.Collection: Inspirational
Let's grease the wheel over tea, let's discuss things in confidence. Let's be outspoken, let's be ridiculous, let's solve the world's problems.Collection: Peace
I want to walk through life.Collection: Want
The joke that you laid in the bed that was me.Collection: Low Self Esteem
What I wouldn't give to find a soul mate, someone else to catch this drift.Collection: Giving
That I would be loved even when I numb myself. That I would be good even when I am overwhelmed. That I would be loved even when I was fuming. That I would be good even if I was clingy.Collection: Would Be
I'm consumed by the chill of solitary.Collection: Sadness
To whom do I owe the first apology? No one's been crueler than I've been to me.Collection: Apology
These precious illusions in my head did not let me down when I was defenseless, and parting with them is like parting with invisible best friends.Collection: Friendship
Love is thick and it swallows me whole.Collection: Love