“I will no longer act on the outside in a way that contradicts the truth that I hold deeply inside. I will no longer act as if I were less than the whole person I know myself inwardly to be.”

Everyone living together in peace and harmony and love – that’s the goal that we seek, and I think that the more people there are who reach that state of mind, the better we will all be.

An opportunity was being given to me to do what I had asked of others.

The bus was among the first ways I realized there was a black world and a white world.

I believe there is only one race – the human race.

Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.

There were times when it would have been easy to fall apart or to go in the opposite direction, but somehow I felt that if I took on more step, someone would come along to join me.

The time had just come when I had been pushed as far as I could stand to be pushed.

Racial pride and self-dignity were emphasized in my family and community.

Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.

As long as there is unemployment, war, crime and all things that go to the infliction of man’s inhumanity to man, regardless – there is much to be done, and people need to work together.

I have spent over half my life teaching love and brotherhood, and I feel that it is better to continue to try to teach or live equality and love than it would be to have hatred or prejudice.

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

I’m tired of being treated like a second-class citizen.

To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.

That was a difference between black slaves and white indentured servants. Black slaves were usually not allowed to keep their names, but were given new names by their owners.

It takes more than one person to bring about peace – it takes all of us.

Don’t allow your actions to betray your words!

Common sense is seeing things as they are; and doing things as they ought to be.

I think if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well. And worth thinking about it as well.

Love is created and preserved by intellectual analysis, for we love only that which is unique, and it belongs to contemplation, not to action, for we would not change that which we love.

Honour is purchas’d by the deeds we do.

I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.

When our thoughts – which bring actions – are filled with hate against anyone, Negro or white, we are in a living hell. That is as real as hell will ever be.

For evil deeds may better than bad words be borne.