The creation of the spiritual was no accident. It was a creation born of necessity, so that the slave might more adequately adjust himself to the conditions of the New World.

If what is communicated is false, it can hardly be called communication.

You have the ability, now apply yourself.

Whatever you do, do it so well that people looking on will feel that the task was reserved especially for you by God Himself.

Failure isn't in not reaching your goal but in having no goal to reach.

In this perilous world, if a black boy wanted to live a halfway normal life and die a natural death he had to learn early the art of how to get along with white folks.

The tragedy of life is not found in failure but complacency. Not in you doing too much, but doing too little. Not in you living above your means, but below your capacity. It's not failure but aiming too low, that is life's greatest tragedy.