Guilt pins a fig-leaf; Innocence is its own adorning.

I proudly love being a Negro woman -- it's so involved and interesting.

Let me learn now where Beauty is; I was born to know her mysteries . . .

It is dangerous for a woman to defy the gods; To taunt them with the tongue's thin tip, Or strut in the weakness of mere humanity, Or draw a line daring them to cross.

Is any prophet come to teach a new thing Now in a more apt time?

Heaven's Virginia when the year's at its Spring.

Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard.

Why do I feel like my heart is ripping in thousands of pieces, taking with it every shred of soul that I still have?

My father was something of a rainbow-chaser.

With a lot of success comes a lot of negativity.

I've always liked the idea of taking old dramatic ideas and devices and making them feel relevant or contemporary or whatever.

The difference between Carter and [Ted] Kennedy: Carter has this vague religion which he believes in strongly, while Kennedy has this strong religion which he believes in vaguely.

The universe will always remove what is no longer serving you.

I have had enough rest and enough training.

When you're used to being in the public eye, if you've got a disease, you've got to own up to it. It's about being about it, not running from it.

I don't like the idea of talking down to kids. I think I was talked down to, and you rebel against that.

The thing about smart people is that they seem like crazy people to dumb people.