The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.

Elimination of illiteracy is as serious an issue to our history as the abolition of slavery.

You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies. You may trod me in the very dirt, but still like dust, I'll rise.

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.

I like to know what's happening.

When younger writers and poets, musicians and painters are weakened by a stemming of funds, they come to me saddened, not as full of dreams and excitement and ideas. I am then weakened and diminished, and made less rich.

Wouldn't take nothing for my journey now.