Dolly Parton Quotes

"I don't try to compete with anybody else. I got to be me. When people who are afraid to be themselves ask me what to do, I tell them, "Don't be a coward. Don't be influenced by other people. You know who you are. If you don't, you need to find out pretty soon. You can't live your life trying to please other people. Go for it!

I got dreams so big they'd scare some people.

I flapped open the lid of my cardboard guitar case and whipped out my old Martin. Mr. Killen seemed a little taken aback. I think he wasn’t sure whether I was going to play the guitar or brain him with it. He breathed a sigh of relief when I went into a song. Bill hustled his guitar out as fast as he could and joined in. I sang loud and strong with the security that comes with knowing that one way or another, it’ll be over soon.

One day I was standing with my stage manager, Sandy Prudden, and Buddy Sheffield watching as Kermit the Frog (with the help of the late Jim Henson) sweetly sang a song. Sandy was always a big joker. He sidled up to me and said, “Isn’t it amazing the way Kermit can sing like that with somebody’s hand up his ass.” Without missing a beat, I came back with, “Shoot, that ain’t nothin’. I did that for seven years on the ‘The Porter Wagoner Show.

We [at Dollywood] don’t try to shove anything down anybody’s throat. We are very open. So many of my businesspeople and my best friends are different faiths, and I work with them, live with them, love them. The gays and lesbians, they come to our parks. I think people just know I’m a very open and accepting person. And in any religion we’re supposed to be that—we’re supposed to be kind...we’re not supposed to pass judgment. Our Bible says, ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged,’ and I believe in all those kinds of things. We’re all God’s children. No matter how we try to get to heaven, we all wanna go there. We just have our own routes to take, and that’s how I look at it.

The way I see it, you've gotta put up with the rain to get a rainbow.

If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.

Is it easy? She sang to herself. No it ain’t can I fix it? No I can’t

Is it easy? She sang again. No it ain’t. Can I fix it? No I can’t. But I sure ain’t gonna take it lyin’ down

You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try.

If you know who you are, and you keep that in mind at all times, and not let that get away from you to sacrifice your principles, your values, your true self. Because if you're true to you, then life will be true to you.

"Cause I am strong and I can prove it
And I got my dreams to see me through
It's just a mountain, I can move it
And with faith enough there's nothing I can't do

And I can see the light of a clear blue morning
And I can see the light of brand new day
I can see the light of a clear blue morning
And everything's gonna be all right
It's gonna be okay

[lyrics from "Light of a Clear Blue Morning"]"

There's some that constantly put monkeys on your back. It' their monkey, but somehow you end up carrying it. Often there are people who really care, but they constantly have problems and they want to share it with you and you're constantly trying to fix things for them. In truth, you're worried more about their problems than you do your own. Be weary of the monkeys.

I don't care what other people do as long as I'm left alone to do what I do and to do it my way.

And Lady Luck, she’ll lead you on. She’ll stay awhile, & then she’s gone.