Russell Simmons
Art is a way to express yourself and through that you can escape a bad situation.Collection: Art
I want to promote poetry to the point where you got all the baldhead kids running around doing poetry, getting the music out of the way and having only words, the spoken word, and then see what happens.Collection: Poetry
If you wake up deciding what you want to give versus what you're going to get, you become a more successful person. In other words, if you want to make money, you have to help someone else make money.Collection: Money
You know, the diversity that America has is so special. It's starting to really become a cool thing for young people.Collection: Cool
Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.
I try to keep a positive intention and use whatever resources I have to benefit others. I try to create businesses that I think are not hurtful. I try to do things that I think are helpful to the environment, to the animals, and to the planet.
Art allows people a way to dream their way out of their struggle.
Most people believe that results matter. The idea that results matter is one that you have to keep letting go of. And most of the time, I believe it.
Look at all the billionaires. If I know 15 billionaires, I know 13 unhappy people.
It is crucial that rappers have the chance to express the truth that is in their heart.
I go to yoga every day. I meditate every morning.
I try to create businesses that I think are not hurtful.
My experiences have been, from the very beginning, cultural and creative. And my business has been a way of exposing the culture, exposing the artists so that the world could hear and see them.
The thing about hip-hop is that it's from the underground, ideas from the underbelly, from people who have mostly been locked out, who have not been recognized.
Hip-hop is a voice for voiceless poor people.
If you run a corporation, your job is to maximize the return on investment for your investors. Good for you. But by the same token, we have to remember that corporations have no compassion. That's why legislation and regulations are necessary.
If you give a good thing to the world, then over time your karma will be good, and you'll receive good.
I've been blessed to find people who are smarter than I am, and they help me to execute the vision I have.
I want to fight poverty and ignorance and give opportunity to those people who are locked out.
I try to make my life about service, and hope that one day we can all 'see' a little better because God is with everyone and everywhere.
I'm not a politician. I only want to help relieve the suffering in communities, and I want to help people see their community in each other.
If you learn late, you pass it on to people so they can learn early. It's a step process.
Judgment of the people in the situation is not helpful. How can you help them is the question.
Last year my wife got a Rolls-Royce.
Poverty and lack of knowledge must be challenged.
Well, it's the last step of the civil rights movement: You know, wrap your hands around some money, right?
My little girls are the most beautiful women in the world. I am a lucky, lucky man. I will spend every day making sure that they know this.
The conditions of suffering that exist today in our impoverished communities are not acceptable. The reflection of those conditions are less concerning to me. And I work everyday about changing the conditions.
Service is the key to everything in life.
I think people instinctively know that their job is to give service and that they are part of a community. It had a great impact on me when my father walked the picket lines and I walked with him during the civil rights movement.
I try to use my voice. I know that celebrity is valuable, and people do listen.
I have 2 million Twitter followers. Some of those people are also yogis and activists and people who really go out and make a difference. I do as much as I can with my voice. It's effortless in some cases. I try to remind everybody that they have that kind of voice.
I try to do things that I think are helpful to the environment, to the animals, and to the planet.
I think that diversity is key for the next American entrepreneurs. They want to be a part of this society where there is so much diversity they have to have people from all the experiences.
I'm a big supporter of President Obama.
American democracy is spoiled by people buying everything in sight and then selling and buying everything in sight, including our politicians.
I think the idea of getting money out of politics is critical.
You can't jump to vegan if you're not. Some people are absolute. Some people are able to be gradual.
I mostly eat healthy. I just do. I'm not a vegan for health reasons - although obviously I'm 20 pounds lighter than when I started. I stayed 20 pounds lighter. I feel better. My friends say I look better. All that's true. But I'm a vegan for compassionate reasons.
I run a bunch of charities and I say this line to people: 'I am somebody who has always been helped.' A little thing like that can make people believe it.
I think I'm less afraid of failure than some others.
There was a moment when I was watching Martin Lawrence and Will Smith in 'Badboys' that I felt, you know, inspired. I don't know if I was proud, because so many people do the work. Everyone's part of a team that develops over the years and gives people chances. There have been some good moments watching people develop.
Respect your parents. What they tell you is true. Hard work, dedication and faith will get you anything. Imagination will drive itself. You can get anything you want, but you have to have faith behind all your ideas. Stick to your goals and have an undying faith.
Actresses are kind of a little crazy.
To be awake is to be fully present, no noise, just you and God. Most of us only have seconds of full consciousness. To live in a state of Samadhi - that's what we're here for.
I don't spend any time thinking about my place in history, ever. If people say I changed things, it's nice, and I take it - but if I could give it to a charity it would be useful. I really believe now that my only job in life is to achieve a state of comfort and happiness.
People are afraid of failure - they don't like to work so hard and have people keep saying, 'No.' I think that's what people fear most.
I don't use my brain about the creative thing. From a business standpoint, I instinctively do things: when I get something right, it's never because I use my brain.
You know, I love all kinds of activism. I certainly think blacks deserve to have something whether it is affirmative action or an opportunity that should be opened up to them. But at the same time I believe that people of color are not the only poor people in America and all over the world.
People will always blame the poets for society's ills. But these are the true artists.