If you want to know how good a tree is, examine how many birds flock to feed off of its fruit.

A genuine smile is one of the world’s rarest treasures.

A fish that is afraid of drowning in a river is ignorant of its gifts.

A diamond earns its sparkle from the pressure it endures.

It is in the storm, not the calm, that a rainbow is born.

A determined seed cannot be hidden from the world, not even by dirt.

Calm skies don't make skillful eagles.

If you cry in the rain, only the sky will see your tears.

Birds keep singing beautiful songs, even if they have no audience.

Today's storms help you appreciate tomorrow’s sunshine.

Train the ears to hear more, the eyes to see more, the hands to do more, the feet to accomplish more, the mind to think more, the heart to feel more, and the soul to love more.

Don’t embrace mediocrity

I would have died, before a literary agent ever committed to my book. This is why I chose to empower myself by self publishing.

My evening visitors if they cannot see the clock should find the time in my face.

The day I am not able to fly will be a sad day for me.

That I make poetry and give pleasure - if I give pleasure - are because of you.

Unless we are thoroughly convinced that without Christ we are under the eternal curse of God, as the worst of His enemies, we shall never flee to Him for refuge.

I would love to be like a Brian McKnight. Shoot, I'd love to be Brian McKnight.

Nobody knows what you want except you, and no one will be as sorry as you if you don't get it.

Misuse of the Koran to provide legitimacy for violence is common, particularly in Europe, where terrorists tend not to be well-educated Muslims.

You can be free. You can be black. Look at me! I'm the Heavyweight Champion! Can't nobody stop me.