The truth is, our civilization is not Christian; it is a tragic compound of great ideal and fearful practice, of loving charity and fearful clutching of possessions.

What broke in a man when he could bring himself to kill another?

All roads lead to Johannesburg.

One day in Johannesburg, and already the tribe was being rebuilt, the house and soul being restored.

When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.

To give up the task of reforming society is to give up one's responsibility as a free man.

I envision someday a great, peaceful South Africa in which the world will take pride, a nation in which each of many different groups will be making its own creative contribution.

Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.

It is not permissible to add to one's possesions if these things can only be done at the cost of other men. Such development has only one true name, and that is exploitation.

I have always found that actively loving saves one from a morbid preoccupation with the shortcomings of society.

But the one thing that has power completely is love, because when a man loves, he seeks no power, and therefore he has power.

Greatness is the quality of time you are able to invest into your purpose.

A civilization must be judged by its standards not by its expenditure.

We don't have to accept the things we might change.

Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.

I'm not so great at keeping secrets; maybe that's why no one ever tells me things.

I haven't been trying to be anything other than myself.

There's an obvious romance to being the drinking writer. But if I'm drinking, I'm not writing.

There's no question raising the minimum wage excessively causes a loss of jobs.

Where I'm from is like 'Hustle Flow' versus '8 Mile.' It's that really grimy, box-Chevy, dope-boy, working-class music.