I want to grow. I want to be better. You Grow. We all grow. We're made to grow. You either evolve or you disappear.

— Tupac Shakur

I worked hard all my life as far as this music business. I dreamed of the day when I could go to New York and feel comfortable, and they could come out here and be comfortable.

— Tupac Shakur

My inspiration for writing music is like Don McLean did when he did "American Pie" or "Vincent". Lorraine Hansberry with "A Raisin in the Sun". Like Shakespeare when he does his thing, like deep stories, raw human needs. I'm trying to think of a good analogy. It's like, you've got the Vietnam War, and because you had reporters showing us pictures of the war at home, that's what made the war end, or that shit would have lasted longer. If no one knew what was going on we would have thought they were just dying valiantly in some beautiful way. But because we saw the horror, that's what made us stop the war. So I thought, that's what I'm going to do as an artist, as a rapper. I'm going to show the most graphic details of what I see in my community, and hopefully they'll stop it quick. I've seen all of that-- the crack babies, what we had to go through, losing everything, being poor, and getting beat down. All of that. Being the person I am, I said no, no no, no. I'm changing this.

— Tupac Shakur

My life was lived through falling rains call on me if there be pain

— Tupac Shakur

My mama always used to tell me: 'If you can't find somethin' to live for, you best find somethin' to die for.'

— Tupac Shakur

No one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble. Not knowing how hard it is to carry on when no one loves you.

— Tupac Shakur

Please wake me when I'm free cannot bear captivity4 I would rather be stricken blind Than 2 live without expression of mind

— Tupac Shakur

Reality is wrong. Dreams are for real.

— Tupac Shakur

Reality is wrong. Dreams are for the real.

— Tupac Shakur

Sometimes when I'm alone Cry, Because I am on my own. The tears I cry are bitter and warm. They flow with life but take no form Cry because my heart is torn. I find it difficult to carry on. If I had an ear to confide in, I would cry among my treasured friend, but who do you know that stops that long, to help another carry on. The world moves fast, and it would rather pass by. Then to stop and see what makes one cry, so painful and sad. And sometimes... I Cry and no one cares about why.

— Tupac Shakur