Marlee Matlin

I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.

Every one of us is different in some way but for those of us who are more 'different', we have to put more effort into convincing the less different that we can do the same thing as they can... just differently.

There are many deaf people who couldn't imagine living in a marriage without someone who doesn't speak their language. For me, I believe that hearing or deaf is fine as long as both parties are willing to communicate in each other's language. But if there's no communication, then the marriage, I believe, will be difficult if not doomed.

I live my life like everyone else; everyone has their own obstacles. Mine is deafness.

I have made the choices that work best for me. I know I cannot please everyone, and that's fine.

The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth.

Silence is the last thing the world will ever hear from me.

You can do anything if you set your mind to it. Look out for kids, help them dream and be inspired. We teach calculus in schools, but I believe the most important formula is courage plus dreams equals success.

How many deaf people do you know in real life? Unless they live in a cave, or are 14, which seems to be true for most people in this business, what could I possibly tell them that they don't already know?

We aren't handicapped in any way except by what other people think. Focus on people's abilities. I can't be on 'American Idol', but there's all kinds of stuff I can do.