If I wanted pity, I got it because I'm illegitimate. And when I didn't want it I was mean and nasty.

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.

It has always been science versus fundamentalism, not science versus religion.

The beauty of life is a great wonder.

A number is still very accurate, but its role is changed.In the changed role this number enriches the silence.

Give up being perfect for being authentic. Be who you are. Love who you are. Others will too.

Strummer's Law: No input, no output.

Democracy comes naturally to him who is habituated normally to yield willing obedience to all laws, human or divine.

The one mistake which is committed habitually by people who have the gift of half-genius, is waiting for inspiration.

Common sense is the best distributed thing in the world, for we all think we possess a good share of it.

I'm not ill-informed about movies. I like movies that take it to that next step.

When we get the inspiration from Heave to do something. We do it now. We don't procrastinate.