America is such a paradoxical society, hypocritically paradoxical, that if you don't have some humor, you'll crack up.

Ten guards and the warden couldn't have torn me out of those books. Months passed without even thinking about being imprisoned....I had never been so truly free in my life.

The Negro neighborhood, which is inferior, is begging for a chance to - integrate itself into that which is - is superior, which is not going to happen. It's going to cause trouble.

I want to be remembered as someone who was sincere. Even if I made mistakes, they were made in sincerity. If I was wrong, I was wrong in sincerity.

We have to keep in mind at all times that we are not fighting for integration, nor are we fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as free humans in this society.

For one to control one's thoughts and feelings means one can actually control one's atmosphere and all who walk into its sphere of influence.

Concerning non-violence: it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.