Madonna. I feel like God, I feel like shit

On fame

• "Fame can be very disruptive. It can be like a drug. It gives you the feeling that you’re happy, it gives you the feeling of self-importance, it gives you the feeling of fulfillment... but it can distract you from what is really important."

• "Fame is a by-product. Fame is something that should happen because you do work that speaks to people and people want to know about your work. Unfortunately the personality of people has taken over from the work and the artistry and it's this thing now that stands on its own. I don't think one should ever aspire to being famous." http://en.wikiquote.org/skins-1.5/monobook/external.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: initial; padding-right: 13px; color: #3366bb; background-position: 100% 50%;" title="http://allaboutmadonna.com/madonna-interview-q-2008.php" href="http://allaboutmadonna.com/madonna-interview-q-2008.php">[9]

• "The worst thing about being famous? I think it's what everybody says.. the lack of privacy and the idea that you're not really allowed to make mistakes and everything that you do is viewed under a microscope."

• "Hollywood is about playing the game, and I can't think of any successful actresses who didn't play the game. there's a lot more renegades in the music business, from Patti Smith to Janis Joplin."

• "Before you're famous, you don't know what you're getting yourself into and you don't know until you're in the middle of it what you have sort of asked for."

• "I like to show off when I'm onstage, but I don't like to show on, like, 'Come in and check it out. Look how rich I am.' That's not my style."

• "I was publicly flogged." (RE: the "Sex" book phase of her career)

• "I'm saying celebrity is bullshit. And who knows that better than me?"

• I have a cage
  It's called the stage
  When I'm let out
  I run about
  And sing and dance and sweat and yell
  I have so many tales to tell
  I like to push things to the edge
  And inch my way along the ledge
  I feel like God, I feel like shit
  The paradox, an even split
  It's just a job, I always say
  I should be grateful everyday
  Sometimes I think I just can't do it
  But I persist and I get through it
  And I console myself each night
  At least my cage is filled with light. (Short poem from "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret")

• "I've been popular and unpopular, successful and unsuccessful, loved and loathed, and I know how meaningless it all is. Therefore, I feel free to take whatever risks I want."