I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day.

I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.

When people made up their minds that they wanted to be free and took action, then there was a change.

I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.

I was ready to die but give my consent never. Never, never.

Without a vision the people perish, but without courage dreams die.

People have said over the years that the reason I did not give up my seat was because I was tired. I did not think of being physically tired. My feet were not hurting. I was tired in a different way. I was tired of seeing so many men treated as boys and not called by their proper names or titles. I was tired of seeing children and women mistreated and disrespected because of the color of their skin. I was tired of Jim Crow laws, of legally enforced racial segregation.