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

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'.

You've got to be quick on your feet in this world if you want to survive. Though once you know the rules, it is not too hard to play the game.

. . . God is too busy making the sun come up and go down and watching so the moon floats just right in the sky to be concerned with color . . . only man wants always God should be there to condemn this one and save that one. Always it is man who wants to make heaven and hell. God is too busy training the bees to make honey and every morning opening up all the new flowers for business.

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

My job is essentially that of an entertainer, no different to that of a musician, no different to that of an actor. I just happen to be an author.

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!