“I have always drawn strength from being close to home.”

Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.

The best way to judge a life is to ask yourself, “Did I make the best use of the time I had?

A wise person decides slowly but abides by these decisions.

Drummed into me, above all, by my dad, by the whole family, was that without your good name, you would be nothing.

One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.

Someone once told me that God figured that I was a pretty good juggler. I could keep a lot of balls in the air at one time. So He said, “Let’s see if he can juggle another one.”

If you’re paid before you walk on the court, what’s the point in playing as if your life depended on it?

Throughout my formal education I spent many, many hours in public and school libraries. Libraries became courts of last resort, as it were. The current definitive answer to almost any question can be found within the four walls of most libraries.

There is a terrific apprehension among some people that blacks will take over the sport… It will create problems because their behavior, speech and dress is just a completely different culture.

We must reach out our hand in friendship and dignity both to those who would befriend us and those who would be our enemy.

It is not just the more talented player who wins. Some players may try a little harder.

I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.

Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.

Later, I discovered there was a lot of work to being good in tennis.

I have become convinced that we blacks spend too much time on the playing field and too little time in libraries.

I don’t want to be remembered for my tennis accomplishments.

I’m not the fighter I used to be no courage left in me in my safe place and on my own I’m trying to build a home.

They wished you a home full of hurt but you deserve a home full of healing.

No matter the storm you are still standing to guide me home.

Walls and brick have never felt like home, the way your gentle bones do.

What is a home if it isn’t waking up next to you?

Memories are homes that I visit, to write the ending of an incomplete story. As it forever stays constant, when people leave.

Home is where you feel.

Hold me even closer than your shadow holds the dark; leave me in no doubt your arms are home.