I know I could never forgive myself if I elected to live without humane purpose, without trying to help the poor and unfortunate, without recognizing that perhaps the purest joy in life comes with trying to help others.

Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.

I accepted the face that as much as I want to lead others, and love to be around other people, in some essential way, I am something of a loner.

I strongly believe the black culture spends too much time, energy and effort raising, praising, and teasing our black children about the dubious glories of professional sports.

Fear isn't an excuse to come to a standstill. It's the impetus to step up and strike.

We blacks look for leadership in men and women of such youth and inexperience, as well as poverty of education and character, that it is no wonder that we sometimes seem rudderless.... We see basketball players and pop singers as possible role models, when nothing could be further, in most cases, from their capacities.

If I don't ask "Why me?" after my victories, I cannot ask "Why me?" after my setbacks and disasters.