Democracy is not tolerance. Democracy is a prescribed way of life erected on the premise that all men are created equal.

Martyrs are needed to create incidents. Incidents are needed to create revolutions. Revolutions are needed to create progress.

There is an indomitable quality within the human spirit that cannot be destroyed; a face deep within the human personality that is impregnable to all assaults.

Man cannot live without some knowledge of the purpose of life. If he can find no purpose in life he creates one in the inevitability of death.

American violence is public life, it's a public way of life, it became a form, a detective story form. So I should think that any number of black writers should go into the detective story form.

I grew to manhood in the Ohio State Penitentiary.

The Harlem of my books was never meant to be real; I never called it real; I just wanted to take it away from the white man if only in my books.

I've written songs about things that nobody else has ever written about.

A utopia cannot, by definition, include boredom, but the 'utopia' we are living in is boring.

The priests and the scientists are right about one thing: At our heart, at our base, we are no better than animals.

We're just beginning to learn the importance of music in our society.

All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out

Climate change is very real. It is a serious issue it should be treated that way... It is not just ours here in Iowa or even in the United States.

Smiling can be a competitive advantage. It makes everyone feel better and every situation brighter.

I love being a dad. I'd have more kids if I could. I'd take a couple more, one or two more before I croak.

If you don't want to be noticed, you don't use a Star Destroyer.

I would say she [Barbara Stanwyck] did her job as best she could; an honest day's work for an honest day's pay - and when it was over, it was over.