“Whether one is rich or poor, educated or illiterate, religious or nonbelieving, man or woman, black, white, or brown, we are all the same.”

If I am only happy for myself, many fewer chances for happiness. If I am happy when good things happen to other people, billions more chances to be happy!

A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.

Because we all share this planet earth, we have to learn to live in harmony and peace with each other and with nature. This is not just a dream, but a necessity.

It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.

Human use, population, and technology have reached that certain stage where mother Earth no longer accepts our presence with silence.

Sometimes when I meet old friends, it reminds me how quickly time passes.

The true hero is one who conquers his own anger and hatred.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.

We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.

Wherever you have friends that’s your country, and wherever you receive love, that’s your home.

If there is no solution to the problem then don’t waste time worrying about it.

Love and Compassion are the true religions to me. But to develop this, we do not need to believe in any religion.

It is very rare or almost impossible that an event can be negative from all points of view.

Physically, emotionally, and mentally, we are all equal.

Our elders said back then that if Black folks really wanted to see Change, they had to step up to the plate and do it themselves. Somebody has to be First. Will that be you?

And Priests in black gowns, were walking their rounds, And binding with briars, my joys & desires.

And I can’t die easy thinking maybe the menfolks white or black is making a spit cup out of you. Have some sympathy for me. Put me down easy, Janie, I’m a cracked plate.

Honey, de white man is de ruler of everything as fur as Ah been able tuh find out. Maybe it’s some place way off in de ocean where de black man is in power, but we don’t know nothin’ but what we see.

Night came walking through Egypt swishing her black dress.

I have black friends, but I don’t just hang out with black kids. I might pull up with Indian kids, white kids, black kids, whatever.

Jealousy is perhaps the most involuntary of all strong emotions. It steals consciousness, it lies deeper than thought. It is always there, like a blackness in the eye, it discolours the world.

I used to get letters saying, ‘I didn’t know black children and white children were the same.’