“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

God has always given me the strength to say what is right.

I talked and talked of everything I know about the white man’s inhuman treatment of the Negro.

I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving up.

I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free, so other people would be also free.

You cannot always control the powers-that-be. You just have to have faith and stand by the things you believe in.

One person can change the world.

Each person must live their life as a model for others.

When I see the leadership roles black women are taking today I am very encouraged.

My only concern was to get home after a hard day’s work.

I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move.

Many whites, even white Southerners told me that even though it may have seemed like the blacks were being freed (by my actions) they felt more free and at ease themselves. They thought that my action didn’t just free blacks but them, too.

There is just so much hurt, disappointment, and oppression one can take. The line between reason and madness grows thinner.

I will always work for human rights for all people.

Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground.

There is no future without education.

When people made up their minds that they wanted to be free and took action, then there was a change.

Courage enlarges, cowardice diminishes resources.

Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished, but he who gathers by labor will increase.

Short term volatility is greatest at turning points and diminishes as a trend becomes established.

Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself.

God loves us beyond comprehension, and we cannot diminish God’s love for us.

The global environment crisis is, as we say in Tennessee, real as rain, and I cannot stand the thought of leaving my children with a degraded earth and a diminished future.

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

He is living on a diminishing hope that good things await him in the future. A hope that promises a sense of contentment even though the scars from the past might never fade away.