Aguilera: "The roughest road often leads to the top."

Aguilera: "I'm not really religious but very spiritual. I give money to this company that manufactures hearing aids on a regular basis. More people should really hear me sing. I have a gift from God."

Aguilera: "I'm an ocean, because I'm really deep. If you search deep enough you can find rare exotic treasures."

Aguilera: "I like to be as free as possible at all times."

Aguilera: "That overachieving, ambitious, nobody-can-hold-me-down attitude I had, which came from a place of anger and aggression, has transformed into feeling like I will take on the world, but I will do it with an embrace, rather than with my dukes up."

Aguilera: "I think it's really great when you stand up for something that you really believe, even if you get heat for it."

Aguilera: "My parent's divorce and hard times at school, all those things combined to mold me, to make me grow up quicker. And it gave me the drive to pursue my dreams that I wouldn't necessarily have had otherwise."

Aguilera: "Red lips and fragrance always top off an outfit for me."

Aguilera: "It's been quite a roller coaster ride, but I've grown and learned a lot about myself. The greatest thing is being able to interact with fans and touch people's lives... for that I give thanks."

Aguilera: "I'm a hard worker and I really give to my fans through my shows."

Aguilera: "The most vulnerable people have tough exteriors because they are very scared inside, and it's very hard for people like that - people like me - to open up. But playing it safe means you stop being open to learning. I always try to find the challenges."

Aguilera: "I want to be a poet and have a chance to explore that and let people know what's really on my mind."

Aguilera: "My parent's divorce and hard times at school, all those things combined to mold me, to make me grow up quicker. And it gave me the drive to pursue my dreams that I wouldn't necessarily have had otherwise."

Aguilera: "I have fun being sexy and tough at the same time."

Aguilera: "Growing up with the childhood that I had, I learned to never let a man make me feel helpless, and it also embedded a deep need in me to always stick up for women."

Aguilera: "I turned to music originally because of my past and needing a release or an outlet to get out anger or frustration or hurt."

Aguilera: "A lot of people are afraid to face themselves, especially when something goes wrong. But that's important, because if something happens within a relationship, it could be how you're allowing someone else to treat you.

Aguilera: "I have a lot of aggression in me that needs to come out in a not-very-precise or articulate way."

Aguilera: "I was very pushed to look a certain way and act a certain way, and it wasn't me, but I played by their rules to get my foot in the door."

Aguilera: "Everybody needs that one person that takes you to the right place to see all the positives in your life."

Aguilera: "I'm not a judgmental person, so I can't comment on someone else's background."

Aguilera: "I got along better with the guys than with the girls. Only two girls came up to talk to me. Later I found out they were telling their boyfriends, 'If you talk to her, I'll kill you.' It's always rough with that high school thing."

Aguilera: "Pop is actually my least favorite kind of music, because it lacks real depth."

Aguilera: "You used to have to sing and convey emotion, and now, well, technically you can do anything with technology. It sucks for music today, but that's why that old music feels so good to me."

Aguilera: "I find fragrance to be such a mood enhancer and definitely a seduction tool."

Aguilera: "It's definitely a dream come true to be recognized and to be able to sign autographs. But, it's also a lot of hard work and can be draining. If you don't know already, you will quickly learn who your real friends are."

Aguilera: "Whatever I do, it's my business. It's not my job to parent America."

Aguilera: "The most vulnerable people have tough exteriors because they are very scared inside, and it's very hard for people like that - people like me - to open up. But playing it safe means you stop being open to learning. I always try to find the challenges."

Aguilera: "I want to be an all round entertainer, I want to act, make films, make albums, do whatever I can."

Aguilera: "I've been through my highs, I've been through my lows; I've been through the gamut of all things in this business. Being too thin. Being bigger. I've been criticized for being on both sides of the scale. It's noise I block out automatically. I love my body."

Aguilera: "I'm embracing many different things, but it's all feel-good."

Aguilera: "Certain people want to see me solely as a pop act, but there are many different sides to Christina Aguilera besides the pop girl."

Aguilera: "I love doing normal things - movies, shopping, going out with friends, writing, reading, taking hot bubble baths - that's a big one for relaxation. I also love to go to art and history museums."