That's the trouble with languages. They have to be learned.

Pioneering basically amounts to finding new and more horrible ways to die

Write me a creature that thinks as well as a man or better than a man, but not like a man.

Editors never buy manuscripts that are left on the closet shelf at home.

We presuppose two things: that there is yet to be learned infinitely more than is now known, and that man can learn it.

Never accept the initial premise of the opposition.

History does not always repeat itself. Sometimes it just yells, 'Can't you remember anything I told you?' and lets fly with a club.

No literature is sound, no philosophy of action workable, if it doesn't take a hard look at itself.

Generally, a desirable, practically attainable idea, suggested in prophecy, has a chance of forcing itself into reality by its very existence.

Immunity corrupts; absolute immunity corrupts absolutely.

Man studied birds for centuries, trying to learn how to make a machine to fly like them. He never did do the trick; his final success came when he broke away entirely and tried new methods.

My heart drips into the cracks on the sidewalk as he leaves.

Happiness seems to require a modicum of external prosperity.

A popular writer writes about what people think. A wise writer offers them something to think about.

Education is a right, it's a journey, it's a process, and it's something we have to stand for, as hard as it is.

Quaint, outlandish heathen gods Black men fashion out of rods

One never dives into the water to save a drowning man more eagerly than when there are others present who dare not take the risk.

I was excited that my films would finally see the light of day and people would see them. But I never imagined that such nice things would be said about a lot of my films.

I do think there must be centralized leadership in the sense that, say, in our struggle all of the leaders coordinate their efforts, cooperate and, and at least evince a degree of unity.

I sometimes think that I think too much. Sometimes I envy the ignorant. I envy people who can just turn it off and be blissful and not care. But that isn't me. I just have never found a way.

How could you be from the ghetto and be a rat?