The different ness of races, moreover, is no evidence of superiority or of inferiority. This merely indicates that each race has certain gifts which the others do not possess.

The mere imparting of information is not education. Above all things, the effort must result in making a man think and do for himself.

If the Negro in the ghetto must eternally be fed by the hand that pushes him into the ghetto, he will never become strong enough to get out of the ghetto.

Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.

If a race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.

No man knows what he can do until he tries.

As another has well said, to handicap a student by teaching him that his black face is a curse and that his struggle to change his condition is hopeless is the worst sort of lynching.

The real servant of the people must live among them, think with them, feel for them, and die for them.

In our so-called democracy we are accustomed to give the majority what they want rather than educate them to understand what is best for them.

For me, education means to inspire people to live more abundantly, to learn to begin with life as they find it and make it better.

The mere imparting of information is not education.

Does anybody know which are the thoughts of God, even if they are plants, mountains, sky, stars or whatever else?

You have to discover what makes you different in your society.

man and dog in rainThis too will pass, and I shall be a better man, said Adam, whenever a storm began.

We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for a moment that we’re not alone.

I have fallen behind time, and am too old to catch it again. Even the noise it makes a long way ahead confuses me.

Liberty is the right of doing whatever the laws permit.

Among all nations, through the darkest polytheism glimmer some faint sparks of monotheism.

You have to choose between what the world expects of you and what you want for yourself.

You're learning to be nourished by the love you give, not by the validation offered in response to your giving.

There's no better policy in a society then pursuing a health and safety of its people.