There's something which impels us to show our inner souls. The more courageous we are, the more we succeed in explaining what we know.

Laugh as often as possible. You must. Because the world will offer you every reason to weep. So as often as possible, you laugh. That, I think, is part of the Great Love.

I know something better is on the road for me.

My mother is so full of joy and life. I am her child. And that is better than being the child of anyone else in the world.

Living a life is like constructing a building: if you start wrong, you'll end wrong.

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.

I know some people might think it odd - unworthy even - for me to have written a cookbook, but I make no apologies. The U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins thought I had demeaned myself by writing poetry for Hallmark Cards, but I am the people's poet so I write for the people.