I learned early in life not to judge others. We outcasts are very happy and content to leave that job to our social superiors.

Basically there is no difference between whites and blacks, browns and yellows. I decided to think no more of people as Northerners and Southerners.

Whenever I played Columbus, Ohio, I dropped in to see my close friend, a medium who had mysterious powers. Her Indian guide was Mohawk.

We are all gifted. That is our inheritance.

We never had a bathtub. Mom would bathe me in the wooden or tin washtub in the kitchen, or in a big lard can.

I am somebody cause God don't make no junk

Many people know how to criticize, but few know how to praise.

Only those who are being burned know what fire is like.

Today or any day that phone may ring and bring good news.

There was one emotional outlet my people always had when they had the blues. That was singing.

All the men in my life have been two things: an epic and an epidemic.

we must not blame our poor symbols if they take forms that seem trivial to us, or absurd, ... however paltry they may be; the nature of our life alone has determined their forms.

Home is where you go to when you've nowhere to go.

My wife is my closest friend. Sure, I'm attracted to her in every way possible, but that's not the answer. Because I've been attracted to other people, and I couldn't stand 'em after a while.

The smallest act of charity shall stand us in great stead.

I always said all my life, if I wasn't born and they gave me the question, I'd say, I don't want to be born.

National honor is national property of the highest value.

The pupil who is never required to do what he cannot do, never does what he can do.

I'm a celebrity trapped in a normal person's body.

Washington couldn't tell a lie, Nixon couldn't tell the truth, and Reagan couldn't tell the difference.

Since things are moving faster and faster, we cannot afford the amount of stupidity that we used to be able to tolerate.