The power of the white world is threatened whenever a black man refuses to accept the white world's definitions.

The male cannot bear very much humiliation; and he really cannot bear it, it obliterates him.

For nothing is fixed, forever and forever, it is not fixed; the earth is always shifting, the light is always changing, the sea does not cease to grind down rock. Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have. The sea rises, the light fails, lovers cling to each other and children cling to us. The moment we cease to hold each other, the moment we break faith with one another, the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.

For, while the tale of how we suffer, and how we are delighted, and how we may triumph is never new, it always must be heard. There isn't any other tale to tell, it's the only light we've got in all this darkness.

I was guilty and irritated and full of love and pain. I wanted to kick him and I wanted to take him in my arms.

And love will simply have no choice but to go into battle with space and time, and furthermore, to win.

I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.