“If we as a people realized the greatness from which we came we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves.”

It is only the belief and the confidence we have in a God why man is able to understand his own social institutions, and move and live like a rational human being.

I am not opposed to the white race as charged by my enemies. I have no time to hate anyone. All my time is devoted to the up-building and development of the Negro Race.

History is the landmark by which we are directed into the true course of life.

To see your enemy and know him is a part of the complete education of man.

We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us a mind. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it for yourself.

If the Negro is not careful he will drink in all the poison of modern civilization and die from the effects of it.

Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden.

Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm.

The whole world is run on bluff. No race, no nation, no man has any divine right to take advantage of others. Why allow the other fellow to bluff you?

Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself, and let history record that as we toiled laboriously and courageously, we worked to live gloriously.

At no time within the last five hundred years can one point to a single instance of the Negro as a race of haters.

You must not mistake lip service and noise for bravery and service.

If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.

The history of a movement, the history of a nation, the history of a race is the guide-post of that movement’s destiny, that nation’s destiny, that race’s destiny.

I have no desire to take all black people back to Africa; there are blacks who are no good here and will likewise be no good there.

Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm, look for me all around you, for, with God’s grace, I shall come and bring with me countless millions of black slaves who have died in America.

I’ve always put great emphasis on the academics and getting your degree. It’s important because basketball is short term. The long term is what are you gonna do after college and after you no longer can bounce the ball.

The secret of the mystery is: God is always greater. No matter how great we think Him to be, His love is always greater.

I’m so glad we found each other in this great big mess.

Nothing is so great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you please none; If you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest.

Greatness occurs when your children love you, when your critics respect you and when you have peace of mind.

Faith in something greater than ourselves enables us to do what we have said we’ll do, to press forward when we are tired or hurt or afraid, to keep going when the challenge seems overwhelming and the course is entirely uncertain.

It’s in my interest, in ours perhaps, or maybe the interests of the greater good, for me to smoke a joint, and calm down.

My mom was a teacher – I have the greatest respect for the profession – we need great teachers – not poor or mediocre ones.