I have had more than half a century of such happiness. A great deal of worry and sorrow, too, but never a worry or a sorrow that was not offset by a purple iris, a lark, a bluebird, or a dewy morning glory.

I leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another. I leave you respect for the use of power. I leave you faith. I leave you racial dignity.

The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.

Studying goes deeper than mere reading. There are surface nuggets to be gathered but the best of the gold is underneath, and it takes time and labor to secure it.

Believe in yourself, learn, and never stop wanting to build a better world.

I never stop to plan. I take things step-by-step.

I do feel, in my dreamings and yearnings, so undiscovered by those who are able to help me.