Failure is not a crime. The crime is not trying.

It's time for somebody to lead all of America's niggers . . all the people who feel left out of the political process.

If the truth be known, we are on the verge of losing an entire generation of our young people, killing and dying in the streets of America.

I have two things going for me. The first is the fidelity to my principles, and the other is my ability to show up for the fight every day. Period that.

I want balance in my life.

[I will] totally dismantle every intelligence agency in this country piece by piece, nail by nail, brick by brick

If Ron Dellums running for mayor gives you hope, then let's get on with it.

If you're going to use the public resources, you need the public benefit.

...when you look at the stars, you should tremble - only dullards have become callous to this frisson ...

Keeping an active mind has been vital to my survival, as has been maintaining a sense of humor.

At every trifle take offense, that always shows great pride or little sense.

True beauty lies deep within. No matter what you look like on the outside, if you know you are beautiful, nothing can change that.

Doing an album is like having a business card; to show people what you do. The most important thing to me is the stage. I do albums because I love the stage.

A first book often has enough material in it for half a dozen.

You want to balance the budget in this country? We change the salary structure for Congress and the President. Every year they don't balance the budget, we don't pay them.

I think I deserve something beautiful.

I have no patience with up-themselves authors who complain about having to trail round a few bookshops signing stock.

This rule is so underrated: Keep your family and business completely separated.