When I was growing up, no one ever said to me, "You cannot do math because you're a girl." But, there was an understanding growing up that math and science were for boys. Somebody lied to me because Katherine Johnson woman exists, all of these women existed.

Taraji P. Henson

Categorized in : Math Girl Growing Up

Every human walks around with a certain kind of sadness. They may not wear it on their sleeves, but it's there if you look deep.

Taraji P. Henson

sad may looks

I don't harp on the negative because if you do, then there's no progression. There's no forward movement. You got to always look on the bright side of things, and we are in control. Like, you have control over the choices you make.

Taraji P. Henson

forward-movement choices sides

I'm always interested in challenging myself and pushing, and seeing how far I can go.

Taraji P. Henson

challenging-myself pushing challenges

It's up to you to be responsible for how you feel if you're not happy. Your happiness lies in your hands. You can't rely on a man to make you happy or complete you. That starts with you.

Taraji P. Henson

men lying hands

There is always going to be love versus hate; we struggle with that as humans within ourselves every day; as a society, we have to struggle. So when you wake up, you have to decide which side you're going to be on. Hopefully, that side is positive, so you do the work and hope that your legacy will help change things.

Taraji P. Henson

legacy hate struggle

Humans have a light side and a dark side, and it's up to us to choose which way we're going to live our lives. Even if you start out on the dark side, it doesn't mean you have to continue your journey that way. You always have time to turn it around.

Taraji P. Henson

journey dark mean

I really wish Hollywood would stop labeling movies, especially movies with predominantly black casts. Then, it makes others feel like, "Oh, well, that's not for me." At the end of the day, everybody understands love, loss, pain and heartbreak. That's not a color.

Taraji P. Henson

pain color loss

People live by example. I can't tell you, "You can be anything," if I shot my own dreams down or was too afraid to go after them.

Taraji P. Henson

live-by dream people

My first big heartbreak proved to me that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Taraji P. Henson

big-heart stronger

At the end of the day, I stand by who I am. I'm a good person.

Taraji P. Henson

good-person the-end-of-the-day who-i-am

You could be laughing one day about the same issues that you're crying about the next day, so that's life.

Taraji P. Henson

next-day issues laughing

A woman is gentle, soft, delicate, and a man's position is to protect her, help her up stairs, make sure she's in the car safely first. Take good care of your woman, and the sky's the limit!

Taraji P. Henson

car sky men

Love is the greatest gift that God has given us. It's free.

Taraji P. Henson

given love-is love

I love the art of acting, so I don't care if I'm in a movie with 10 people, two people, or by myself. I just really enjoy it.

Taraji P. Henson

two people art

What gives me the greatest satisfaction is the number of people I can affect with my gift, with what I do. That's the most important thing to me, more important than any trophy or award.

Taraji P. Henson

important giving people

I feel like I'm already a winner. I've made so many dreams come true. I'm here. Whether you walk away with a statue [ Emmy]or not, you shouldn't make it about it that necessarily. Everyone who's here in this house tonight is a winner.

Taraji P. Henson

tonight dream house

Katherine Johnson never complained, it just was what it was. She just said, "I just wanted to go to work and do my numbers." And she stopped right there. I think about that as a Black woman in Hollywood when I'm asked about diversity. I hate when people say diversity because the first thing you jump to is Black and white. When you talk about diversity, you're talking about women being hired in front of and behind the camera. You are talking about people with disabilities, the LGBTQ community...so I hate when people think about diversity.

Taraji P. Henson

black-and-white hate thinking

I would love to play a superhero. I wish I could be in 'The Avengers,' kicking butt.

Taraji P. Henson

superhero wish play

If I feel like I've reached this greatness in my career than there's no more room for growth. I don't think I'm ever going to get there. If I ever get complacent, it's time for me to bow out.

Taraji P. Henson

greatness careers thinking

I like to be scared. I don't like feeling like "Oh, this is going to be a walk in the park". If I ever get to that place, I'll just stop acting.

Taraji P. Henson

parks acting feelings