One of the things I love most about Martin Luther King is that he was willing to sacrifice his popularity in favor of his integrity. He was an honest man, and he would tell the truth.

There is something about boldness and fearlessness and being free enough to speak what is on one's mind that warrants freedom.

It's fashionable to be indifferent to other people's suffering

It takes tremendous discipline, takes tremendous courage, to think for yourself, to examine yourself.

Our politicians have sacrificed their principles on the altar of special interests; our corporate leaders have sacrificed their integrity on the altar of profits; and our media watchdogs have sacrificed the voice of dissent on the altar of audience competition.

The paradox of race in America is that our common destiny is more pronounced and imperiled precisely when our divisions are deeper.

Music at its best...is the grand archeology into and transfiguration of our guttural cry, the great human effort to grasp in time our deepest passions and yearnings as prisoners of time. Profound music leads us--beyond language--to the dark roots of our scream and the celestial heights of our silence.