. . . besides love, independence of thought is the greatest gift an adult can give a child.

Never take advice from a donkey.

I'm going to die with my mind intact. And to me that is the most exciting way you could possibly die.

But I was still alive, and in my book, where there's life, there's hope.

I wish to cup knowledge in my hand and drink it as one drinks water by the side of the stream.

It's been a privilege to write for you and to have you accept me as a storyteller in your lives, Now, as my story draws to an end, may I say only, `Thank you. You have been simply wonderful'.

Racism does not diminish with brains, it's a disease, a sickness, it may incubate in ignorance but it doesn't necessarily disappear with the gaining of wisdom!