Experience, which destroys innocence, also leads one back to it.

There are few things under heaven more unnerving than the silent, accumulating contempt and hatred of a people.

If one cannot risk oneself, then one is simply incapable of giving. And, after all, one can give freedom only by setting someone free.

When Americans look out on the world, they see nothing but dark and menacing strangers who appear to have no sense of rhythm at all, nor any respect or affection for white people; and white Americans really do not know what to make of all this, except to increase the defense budget.

For these are all our children, we will all profit by or pay for whatthey become.

When the book comes out it may hurt you - but in order for me to do it, it had to hurt me first. I can only tell you about yourself as much as I can face about myself.

Nobody is more dangerous than he who imagines himself pure in heart; for his purity, by definition, is unassailable.