Arrest me for sitting on a bus? You may do that.

My resisting being mistreated on the bus did not begin with that particular arrest…I did a lot of walking in Montgomery.

If I can sit down for freedom, you can stand up for children.

There is work to do; that is why I cannot stop or sit still. As long as a child needs help, as long as people are not free, there will be work to do. As long as an elderly person is attacked or in need of support, there is work to do. As long as we have bigotry and crime, we have work to do.

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.

Whatever my individual desires were to be free, I was not alone. There were many others who felt the same way.

I had given up my seat before, but this day, I was especially tired. Tired from my work as a seamstress, and tired from the ache in my heart.