My kids are growing up and it's hard to accept they are their own person and they're independent.

My career has been my craziest adventure.

I can't complain about my career, that's for sure.

If my father had hugged me even once, I'd be an accountant right now.

I think family, friends and a sense of community give you greater happiness than money. But, of course, one has to have a minimum on which to live. The joy I get from sitting around and having a laugh is immeasurable - much greater than anything that I have ever bought.

I find, in being black, a thing of beauty: a joy; a strength; a secret cup of gladness.

In Athens I was 17 and I didn't have any expectations. I was just swimming fast and racing everybody. I didn't have the joy after my races in 2007. I didn't want to go to Beijing. I had to for sponsors.

Economists typically think that your happiness goes up as you get more money, but the more you have, the less each additional dollar matters. This means that you value money most in times when you have less income and more expenses.