In my writing, as much as I could, I tried to find the good, and praise it.

I certainly wasn't seeking any degree, the way a college confers a status symbol upon its students. My homemade education gave me, with every additional book that I read, a little bit more sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness and blindness that was afflicting the black race in America. Not long ago, an English writer telephoned me, asking questions. One was, "What's your alma mater?" I told him, "Books.

When you clench your fist, no one can put anything in your hand.

Every time an old person dies, it's like a library burning down.

Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.

The way to succeed is never quit. Thats it. But really be humble about it.

I know that statistically, it has been proven that there is a tremendous amount of black on black crime within the inner cities.