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Lena Horne Quotes

Lena Horne (1917 - )

By Jone Johnson Lewis, About.com

Singer and actress Lena Horne found success despite racial barriers she encountered early in her career.

Selected Lena Horne Quotations

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

• Always be smarter than the people who hire you.

• Don't be afraid to feel as angry or as loving as you can, because when you feel nothing, it's just death.

• It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it.

• You have to be taught to be second class; you're not born that way.

• It's ill-becoming for an old broad to sing about how bad she wants it. But occasionally we do.

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About These Quotes

Quote collection assembled by Jone Johnson Lewis. Each quotation page in this collection and the entire collection © Jone Johnson Lewis 1997-2005. This is an informal collection assembled over many years. I regret that I am not be able to provide the original source if it is not listed with the quote.

Citation information:
Jone Johnson Lewis. "Lena Horne Quotes." About Women's History. URL: http://womenshistory.about.com/cs/quotes/qu_lena_horne.htm . Date accessed: (today). (More on how to cite online sources including this page)

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