I believe if the white and colored people could get together and be let alone, they would understand each other and consequently love each other.

What am I most ashamed of in my life? Not keeping my promise to my sister and being too scared of America to attend her funeral.

Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one's soul; when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood.

Sex was a pleasurable form of exercise, like dancing.

When I was a child and they burned me out of my home, I was frightened and I ran away. Eventually I ran far away. It was to a place called France. Many of you have been there, and many have not. But I must tell you, ladies and gentlemen, in that country I never feared. It was like a fairyland place.

I'm not intimidated by anyone. Everyone is made with two arms, two legs, a stomach and a head. Just think about that.

Art is an elastic sort of love.