I think segregation is bad, I think it's wrong, it's immoral. I'd fight against it with every breath in my body, but you don't need to sit next to a white person to learn how to read and write. The NAACP needs to say that.

The worst thing: to give yourself away in exchange for not enough love.

Art is the highest expression of the human spirit.

Read widely, and without apology. Read what you want to read, not what someone tells you you should read.

Keep a light, hopeful heart. But ­expect the worst.

How lovely this world is, really: one simply has to look.

There is nothing "ordinary" about reality.

I never change, I simply become more myself.

It's where we go, and what we do when we get there, that tells us who we really are.

I was sympathetic to virtually all groups that wanted to get away from the old system.

I'd been very partial to Malcolm X, particularly his self-help teachings.

I certainly have some very strong libertarian leanings, yes.

In our society, marriage is not simply a governmental institution; it is a religious institution as well, today's decision might change the former, but it cannot change the latter.

I agree with the holding that racial discrimination in higher education admissions will be illegal in 25 years. They are illegal now.

I'm not an Uncle Tom. . .. I'm going to be here for 40 years. For those who don't like it, get over it.

You didn't think of angels as white or black. They were angels.

The myths that are created about the South, about the way we grew up, about black people, are wrong.

I was never a liberal. I was radical. I was cynical. I was negative. But, I was never a liberal. I always saw that as too lukewarm for me.

And I thank God I believe in God, or I would probably be enormously angry right now.