Love is big; love can hold anger, love can even hold hatred. It's about the intention of what you want it to do.

I feel a little peculiar around the children. For one thing, they grown. And I see they think me and Nettie and Shug and Albert and Samuel and Harpo and Sofia and Jack and Odessa real old and don't know much what going on. But I don't think us feel old at all. And us so happy. Matter of fact, I think this the youngest us ever felt.

I've found, in my own writing, that a little hatred, keenly directed, is a useful thing.

Anything we love can be saved.

We will be ourselves and free, or die in the attempt. Harriet Tubman was not our great-grandmother for nothing.

Politically, the world is so confused right now - there's so much suffering caused by various movements by various parties and people in power in government.

My mother was very strong. Once, she picked up a coconut and smashed it against my father's head. It taught me about women defending themselves and not collapsing in a heap.