When I was little, my mother taught me how to use a fork and knife. The trouble is that Mother forget to teach me how to stop using them!

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, fellow members of the motion picture industry and honored guests. This is one of the happiest moments of my life, and I want to thank each one of you who had a part in selecting me for one of their awards for your kindness. It has made me feel very, very humble and I shall always hold it as a beacon for anything that I may be able to do in the future. I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. My heart is too full to tell you just how I feel, and may I say thank you and God bless you.

The entire race is usually judged by the actions of one man or woman

Bob Hope, Red Skelton, and Eddie Cantor... help us keep our balance.

I've played everything but a harp.

In playing the part of Mammy, I tried to make her a living, breathing character, the way she appeared to me in the book

My desire for the part of Mammy was not dominated by selfishness for Hollywood has been good to me and I am grateful