“If Martin [Luther King, Jr.]’s philosophy had been embraced and lived out in Iraq and other places, we wouldn’t have bin Ladens.”

I think if people really read Martin Luther King, Jr., then they would begin to understand what he really represented. The philosophy that he developed, of course, he was greatly influenced by Gandhi and Jesus Christ.

An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed in retaliation.

I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation.

The process of nonviolence is one that takes time and those of us who’ve suffered, who’ve been persecuted over the years, would like to see things change, you know, overnight.

It doesn’t matter how strong your opinions are. If you don’t use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.

People need role models. They need to see examples of people in peoples’ lives.

The greatest violence is seeing a child go to bed hungry.

To really know someone is to have loved and hated him in turn.

How many must die before we can really have a free and true and peaceful society?

Nelson Mandela sat in a South African prison for 27 years. He was nonviolent. He negotiated his way out of jail. His honor and suffering of 27 years in a South African prison is really ultimately what brought about the freedom of South Africa. That is nonviolence.

The more visible signs of protest are gone, but I think there is a realization that the tactics of the late sixties are not sufficient to meet the challenges of the seventies.

When you are willing to make sacrifices for a great cause, you will never be alone.

We must eliminate the gulf of mistrust and ignorance that keeps us from learning from each other.

I am convinced that the women of the world, united without any regard for national or racial dimensions, can become a most powerful force for international peace and brotherhood.

The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.

Segregation was wrong when it was forced by white people, and I believe it is still wrong when it is requested by black people.

Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false Self. We are not very good at recognizing illusions, least of all the ones we cherish about ourselves.

Every one of us is shadowed by an illusory person: a false Self. We are not very good at recognizing illusions, least of all the ones we cherish about ourselves.

I embrace the messiness of life. I find it so beautiful actually.

I really wanted to show [in fences] a marriage that is working. Not perfect, but working.

Stars are always dancing. Sometimes they dance twinkling away with the rhythm of your joyful heart and sometimes they dance without movement to embrace your heartache as if frozen sculptures of open-armed sadness.

Just for today, allow yourself to embrace all that you are every moment. Know that you are a vessel of light. Allow yourself to release all doubts about your ability, the mistakes of the past, the fear of the future.

If you are powerfully embracing your physical body and your sexuality, you are living fully in your humanness and that is as spiritual as it gets.

Embrace those storms that lead you to your waves of dreams.