I loved it in the unconditional way that children love their first home.

A leader. . .is like a shepherd. He stays behind the flock, letting the most nimble go out ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all along they are being directed from behind.

A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it's lowest ones

It reaffirmed my long-held belief that education was the enemy of prejudice. These were men and women of science, and science had no room for racism.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

When the women begin to take an active part in the struggle, no power on earth can stop us from achieving freedom in our lifetime.

Of course you cannot know a man completely, his character, his principles, sense of judgement, not till he’s shown his colors, run the people, making laws. Experience, there’s the test.

If wealth is a magnet, poverty is a kind of repellent.

What I took out of them was that character was measured by facing up to difficult situations and that a hero was a man who would not break even under the most trying circumstances.

When you are young and strong...you can stay alive on your hatred"....but realized later "They can take everything from me except my mind and heart"Nelson Mandela from Long Walk to Freedom

Crime must be brought under control... Freedom without civility, freedom without the ability to live in peace, was not true freedom at all.

Use your time to gain knowledge

Poetry is not only to write but to express our feelings.

Loving someone liberates the lover as well as the beloved. And that kind of love comes with age.

A movie's very different from the book, and it's different from the script, and it's usually one person's vision.

Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations.

Everybody who aspires to high positions of leadership in their state and in their country should be willing to take unscreened, unrehearsed questions from the people who pay their salary.

When you are racing in an able-bodied competition, you're all equal and you go out there and try your best, and that's what counts.

I don't want to become an ivory tower filmmaker. That sounds peculiar, but I want to be a mainstream filmmaker. I want the largest possible audience that I can find - but, of course, on my terms.

I really like my life. I've arranged my life so that I can do what I want.

Alleviation of suffering is my fundamental principle.