“An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.”

The depression brought everybody down a peg or two. And the Negroes had but few pegs to fall.

I dream a world… where wretchedness will hang its head and joy, like a pearl, attends the needs of all mankind. Of such I dream, my world!

We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.

Misery is when you heard on the radio that the neighborhood you live in is a slum but you always thought it was home.

When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul.

Hang yourself, poet, in your own words. Otherwise, you are dead.

Out of love, No regrets– Though the goodness Be wasted forever. Out of love, No regrets– Though the return Be never.

Pleasured equally In seeking as in finding, Each detail minding, Old Walt went seeking And finding.

Life dosent frighten me at all.

I stay cool, and dig all jive, That’s the way I stay alive. My motto, as I live and learn, is Dig and be dug In return.

Love is a naked shadow, On a gnarled and naked tree.

Everything there is but lovin’ leaves a rust on your old soul.

Well, when Christ comes back this time, I hope He comes back mad His own self. I hope He drives the Jim Crowers out of their high places, every living last one of them from Washington to Texas.

Keep your hand on the plow. Hold on.

We younger Negro artists who create now intend to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame. If white people are pleased we are glad. If they aren?t it doesn?t matter.

Money and art are far apart.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good for the great.

Marriage is good for those who are afraid to sleep alone at night.

I want to know how you feel and I don’t mean the pretty stuff, I mean the stuff you’re afraid to say out loud.

Never be afraid to do what you love.

A faith that is afraid of other people is no faith at all.

I’m human. I’m spiritual, God-fearing, an intellectual AND I’m hyphy. I’m also growing and wrong a lot. I ain’t afraid to admit it.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.

Don’t get stuck with someone who’s not willing to commit all because you’re afraid to be alone.