I'm here, and I do my best to be completely centered at the place I'm at, then I go forward to the next place.

I don't know if I continue, even today, always liking myself. But what I learned to do many years ago was to forgive myself. It is very important for every human being to forgive herself or himself because if you live, you will make mistakes - it is inevitable. But once you do and you see the mistake, then you forgive yourself and say, 'Well, if I'd known better I'd have done better,' that's all.

Won't it be wonderful when black history and native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history.

You alone are enough. You have nothing to prove to anybody.

Stand up straight and realize who you are, that you tower over your circumstances. You are a child of God. Stand up straight.

Don't get older just to get wiser. If you get older, you will be wiser, I believe that - if you dare. But get older because it's fun!

I will write on the pages of history what I want them to say. I will be myself. I will speak my own name.