Clay Aiken Quotes

I know that I've got big ears and a big forehead and that my hair sticks up, but I'm happy with myself. I'm not necessarily trying to win a beauty pageant here.

Everyone deserves the best start in life, which is what UNICEF is working to provide the world's most vulnerable children. Education is essential to a child's development. I hope that as an Ambassador I can encourage people to join UNICEF's mission to make education a reality for children throughout the world.

I decided to study special education and fell in love with working with individuals with autism. That's what I planned to do with my life.

The message I'll share...is that inclusion is extremely important for kids with and without disabilities.

I like to talk. I'm a terrible dancer. I love my hometown. I have freckles and oversized ears. I'm a geeks. I have tried not to hide who I am or what matters to me.

A song can be more than words and music ... when sung with soul a song carries you to another world, to a place where no matter how much pain you feel, you are never alone.

Well, fortunately we found out that the runner-up our particular year was going to get a record contract also. So it was kind of a - it was bitter sweet but it was an opportunity.

It doesn't really matter to me how I make a difference, I just wanna make sure that I do.

I know this is going to sound cheesy and like I'm trying to be Miss America, but the most important responsibility a celebrity has is to set an example and be a role model.

And I think that when I finally decided to let go and let God and allow that to happen, I became a lot more successful than I could have done if I had planned it all myself.

I thought about that the other day after I went to the grocery store and had to sign fifteen autographs before leaving. On one hand, it's just so flattering. On the other hand, sometimes it would be nice to get the bread and leave, you know?

I went to school for special education. I always assumed when I had the opportunity I would love to try and help kids with disabilities.

In my ideal world, no child would suffer. Charitable instincts would prevail. There would be global acceptance of all different types of people.

I think I probably hoped for it a little bit, but I'm not an optimist. I'm a realist... or maybe even a pessimist.

There are stars out there who would die to have this much exposure.

If my career detour from special education to singing has done one thing, it has afforded me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others.

My mother taught me that we all have the power to achieve our dreams. What I lacked was the courage.

I got rid of my glasses and they changed my hair. That's really all they did. They went shopping for me, so the clothes are different too. It wasn't like Extreme Makeover where I got a nose job or anything.

I was on TV for almost sixteen weeks during American Idol. It's at the point now where it's old.

It's a whole team of people working 24 hours around the clock to make me look like this.

But I was going to be a teacher my entire life, so I wasn't counting on money to much.

While everyone I work with may not share my beliefs, I have been surrounded by nothing but support.

I could have a degree in music and come on the show, and Simon could still say 'You stink'.

Pain happens to everyone. To grow up, to fulfill your potential, to develop into what God wants you to be-this process takes support. No one succeeds alone.

The greatest glory never comes from falling, but from rising each time you fall.

UNICEF is working for the survival of children worldwide. What can we do to get more Americans committed to the cause?

Working with children with autism has provided me with an opportunity to see the world in a different way. I see them strive to overcome obstacles and persevere, and learn to persevere myself. They are my inspiration.

I auditioned just for fun.

I sometimes think I might be autistic because I like to know - I need to know - my beginnings and my ends. I don't have to be in control of it, but I need to know what's going on.

You know, I think I'm a stronger person for realizing that you can't make everybody love you.

I know this is going to sound cheesy and like I'm trying to be Miss America, but the most important responsibility a celebrity has is to set an example and be a role model. I want to make sure that no matter how long I go through this, I don't fall into the trap of changing and modifying how I do things that aren't a positive example. I want to remain somebody that the entire family can listen to or watch.

I want everyone to vote. I want everyone to be a part of electing officials. Because when we are not a part, when we don't have a very broad voter base, then we don't have true representation.

I liked being able to work with all the different producers and take what they brought to the table and bring my own style to it.

I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions because I don’t think you should have to wait until December to start working on how to change yourself. I think if you’ve got a problem, you need to fix it now.

I did get a degree in special education.

I don't understand why people like me! It doesn't make any sense!

Perseverance. I got cut twice. I got cut in Charlotte. I didn't have to go to Atlanta to audition. I could have said, "I'm not cut out for this." But I said, "I think I'm better than that, I can go try again." So I went to Atlanta and I made it through. Then I got cut the first time around. I could have told them I didn't want to come back for the Wild Card show but I did and look how far I got.

I'm tired and I don't know what day it is.

I never knew that people made a club for me!

Because I'm from North Carolina, you think I'm the Andy Griffith show, or something?

Every kiss is a kiss you can never get back.

I mean, that's kind of what this business is about in some ways. You're trying to make everybody like you. But you can't do that. You can't force everybody - anybody to like you if they're just not willing to do it.

I had the greatest time on Broadway and made friends I never expected to make!

I'd hate to have a job where I had to be rude to people.

A song is like a smile. If you meet people from another country, even if you don't speak the same language, you know what a smile means. A song works the same way. Music produces feelings that need no translation.

The biggest problem I had - and the biggest problem teenagers have - is not how they dress, how they look or how they act or talk. It's how they see themselves - their self-esteem. In the tenth grade, I realized I am who I am. I've got big ears and big feet. I can etiher sulk around or I can be happy with who I am. The minute I decided to be confident with who I was, all that other stuff stopped. It's all in the way you carry yourself.

As long as you're living right, then you don't have to worry about what people see.

When the answer to all my dreams is as close as a touch away, why am I here holding back what I'm trying to say?

I am never going to sound like Johnny Mathis.

I really love live performing!