People say I'm such a pessimist, but I always was. It never stopped me from doing what I had to do. I would say I'm a realist.

There are good guys, and there are congressional people who are good guys, and I certainly vote in those elections. You know, my fondest dream would be if Obama, when he got out of office, decided he was going to go back and organize on the streets. He'd be the only person I could imagine who could really create a movement similar to what King did, and God knows we need that now.

If people have to put labels on me, I'd prefer the first label to be human being, the second label to be pacifist, and the third to be folk singer.

God must have something to do with joy ... and with sadness.

The hardest song to write is a protest song, a topical song with meaning.

The easiest kind of relationship for me is with ten thousand people. The hardest is with one.

Social change really cannot happen unless people are willing to take a risk, and they were. And I was so moved by that, and of course by the way that he spoke, that made a huge dent in my belief system and my spirit.