My people had used music to soothe slavery's torment or to propitiate God, or to describe the sweetness of love and the distress of lovelessness, but I knew no race could sing and dance its way to freedom.

Each of us needs to withdraw from the cares which will not withdraw from us. We need hours of aimless wandering or spates of time sitting on park benches, observing the mysterious world of ants and the canopy of treetops.

Ask for what you want and be prepared to get it!

Nobody can enjoy unless we all enjoy, truly enjoy.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I have great respect for the past.

I am convinced that most people do not grow up ... our real selves, the children inside, are still innocent and shy as magnolias.