It was the meanest moment of eternity.

There are years that ask questions and years that answer.

Some people could look at a mud puddle and see an ocean with ships.

So she sat on the porch and watched the moon rise. Soon its amber fluid was drenching the earth, and quenching the thirst of the day.

No hour is ever eternity, but it has its right to weep.

They bowed down to him rather, because he was all of these things, and then again he was all of these things because the town bowed down.

Tain't no use in you cryin' . . . But folks is meant to cry 'bout somethin' or other. Better leave things de way dey is. Youse young yet. No tellin' whut mout happen befo' you die.

He was the average mortal. It troubled him to get used to the world one way and then suddenly have it turn different.

Honey, de white man is de ruler of everything as fur as Ah been able tuh find out. Maybe it's some place way off in de ocean where de black man is in power, but we don't know nothin' but what we see.

Please God, please suh, don't let him love nobody else but me. Maybe Ah'm is uh fool, Lawd, lak dey say, but Lawd, Ah been so lonesome, and Ah been waitin', Jesus. Ah done waited uh long time.

And I can't die easy thinking maybe the menfolks white or black is making a spit cup out of you. Have some sympathy for me. Put me down easy, Janie, I'm a cracked plate.

People ask you questions so you can reveal to them God’s intention

When you are at your lowest God is getting ready to take you to your highest.

Stubborn and ardent clinging to one's opinion is the best proof of stupidity.

If by the mere force of numbers a majority should deprive a minority of any clearly written constitutional right, it might, in a moral point of view, justify revolution.

Recluse fanatics have few ideas or sentiments to communicate . . .

Radicalism and extremism, while they are dangers, they exist in every society on some level.

Lord, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love, with all my heart. With all my heart.

Her affection for everything she could love increased.

One should not exaggerate the importance of trifles. Life, for instance, is much too short to be taken seriously.

Who left nothing of authorship untouched, and touched nothing which he did not adorn. [Lat., Qui nullum fere scribendi genus non tetigit; nullum quod tetigit non ornavit.]