Our philosophies must be rewritten to remove them from the domain of words and "ideas," and to plant their roots firmly in the earth.

We must come to understand our past, our history, in terms of the soil and water and forests and grasses that have made it what it is.

The free man never thinks of escape.

If I am only sure of one thing in life, it's that it's meant to be lived!

Certainly when you do a work for a public space, you lose control.

My tattoo is a phoenix. I got the first when I was 16. I hid it for years.

I'm accountable - this sounds emo - to black American writing, Southern writing, Southern black American writing, American writing and my people. That's kind of what keeps me accountable.

The whole religion of Islam is based on reward and punishment and reward and punishment, and it becomes a part of how you think of everything. Even yourself.

Hatred can be overcome only by love.

I have been very lucky. I have always been able to eat and drink and dance in my life so I am not afraid of anything. And if suddenly I should have nothing I would still be grateful.

Look at the limes in this drink, how they float. That's good news. Next time I'm on a boat, and it capsizes, I will reach for a lime. I'm saved by the buoyancy of citrus.

To some people, I am a kind of Merlin who takes lots of crazy chances, but rarely makes mistakes.