I'm not being disrespectful of the medium; it's just not as important as the work that I actually do [books].

I love the natural world - it comes from my culture, which grew out of a people enslaved.

As we talked of freedom and justice one day for all, we sat down to steaks. I am eating misery, I thought, as I took the first bite. And spit it out.

I have never felt that the one thing that I am 'known for' is what I am.

Resistance is the secret of joy!

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.

Writing saved me from the sin and inconvenience of violence.