You learn about equality in history and civics, but you find out life is not really like that.

True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.

I have always drawn strength from being close to home.

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.

My potential is more than can be expressed within the bounds of my race or ethnic identity.

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 don't want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments. That's no contribution to society. [Tennis] was purely selfish; that was for me.