I travel a lot. It used to be, when I would go to any country, I could guarantee that the first question would establish my name, and the fact that I've written Roots, and the third question, at least no later than the fourth question would not be a question, so much as a statement, something like, "We understand that in America white people do such and such bad things to black people."

History is written by winners.

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

When you start about family, about lineage and ancestry, you are talking about every person on earth.

I think one of the most fascinating things you can do after you learn about your own people is to study something about the history and culture of other people.

You don't spend twenty years of your life in the service and not have a warm, nostalgic feeling left in you. It's a small service, and there's a lot of esprit de corps.

The main thing you got to remember is that everything in the world is a hustle.