In a contest between new technology and old ways of life, it is the traditional rhythms that will hold. Traditional societies make up more than two-thirds of the world, the two-thirds that will not be going online to "save" time but will remain wedded to the knowledge that if the bus doesn't come that day, it will come someday. After all, there is nothing but time.

A loud voice is not always angry; a soft voice not always to be dismissed; and a well-placed silence can be the indisputable last word.

black isn't beautiful and it isn't ugly - black is! It's not kinky hair and it's not straight hair - it just is.

Old as he was, he still missed his daddy sometimes.

One should be able to return to the first sentence of a novel and find the resonances of the entire work.

That's one of the privileges of old age - you can give plenty of advice 'cause most folks think that's all you got left anyway.

It's as if I've arrived in a place where it's all spirit and no body -- an overwhelming sense of calm . . . I actually began to feel blessed.