If a man can reach the latter days of his life with his soul intact, he has mastered life.

You have a 45mm automatic pistol on your lap, and I have a 35mm camera on my lap, and my weapon is just as powerful as yours. (To Black Panther militant Eldridge Cleaver)

I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera.

Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit. Enthusiasm is natural; it is being alive, taking the initiative, seeing the importance of what you do, giving it dignity and making what you do important to yourself and to others.

And now, I feel at 85, I really feel that I'm just ready to start.

If you don't have anything to say, your photographs aren't going to say much.

But I do feel a little teeny right now that I'm just about ready to start, and winter is entering. Half past autumn has arrived.