Everybody is original, if he tells the truth, if he speaks from himself. But it must be from his *true* self and not from the self he thinks he *should* be.

Work freely and rollickingly as though you were talking to a friend who loves you. Mentally (at least three or four times a day) thumb your nose at all know-it-alls, jeerers, critics, doubters.

Families are great murderers of the creative impulsive, particularly husbands.

...writing is not a performance but a generosity.

...at last I understood that writing was this: an impulse to share with other people a feeling or truth that I myself had.

Of course, in fairness, I must remind you of this: that we writers are the most lily-livered of all craftsmen. We expect more, for the most peewee efforts, than any other people.

...the best way to know the Truth or Beauty is to try to express it. And what is the purpose of existence Here or Yonder but to discover truth and beauty and express it, i.e., share it with others?

By encouraging the critic in themselves (the hater) they have killed the artist (the lover).

At least I understood that writing was this: an impulse to share with other people a feeling or truth that I myself had. Not to preach to them, but to give it to them if they cared to hear it.

Everyone knows how people who laugh easily create us by their laughter, --making us think of funnier and funnier things.

Life is What You Make it, The Choice is all Yours

In order to be better, you should expect to be better.

I wanted to show the history and strength of all kinds of black women. Working women, country women, urban women, great women in the history of the United States.

Pleasure was the color of the time.

My biggest fear had always been getting hurt, and not being able to leave the game as a player on my own terms.

How do you press a wildflower into the pages of an e-book?

For me, my mother is everything.

In war the simplest manoeuvres are the best.

I'm your idol, the highest title, Numero Uno, I'm not a Puerto Rican, but I'm speakin so that you know, And understand, I got the gift of speech, And it's a blessin, so listen to the lesson I preach.