. . . the circumference of life cannot be rightly drawn until the center is set.

The tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream...It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.

For nearly a century, the South made itself believe that Negroes and white people were really communicating. So convinced of this were the white Southerners that they almost made the nation believe that they, and only they, knew the mind of the Southern Negro.

It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.

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.

Man is what his dreams are.