When people become elders - when they're older; they can be old without being an elder, really. They [can] just be old and not very useful.
Alice WalkerThere are those who believe Black people possess the secret of joy and that it is this that will sustain them through any spiritual or moral or physical devastation.
Alice WalkerOh, Celie, unbelief is a terrible thing. And so is the hurt we cause others unknowingly.
Alice WalkerAnything that forces you to act at the possible harm of your own existence is going to exact a cost. You have to then think about, "Can I pay this? What will this mean to me - to my relationships, to my family, to everybody? What is this going to take? How much of me is this going to take?"
Alice Walker