When you start about family, about lineage and ancestry, you are talking about every person on earth.

In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future.

Racism is taught in our society, it is not automatic. It is learned behavior toward persons with dissimilar physical characteristics.

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.

The way to succeed is never quit. Thats it. But really be humble about it.

Roots is not just a saga of my family. It is the symbolic saga of a people.

Every time an old person dies, it's like a library burning down.

Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help.

When you clench your fist, no one can put anything in your hand.

You have to deal with the fact that your life is your life.

Either you deal with what is the reality, or you can be sure that the reality is going to deal with you.

Art never responds to the wish to make it democratic

Finding is for things that are lost. You don't need to find me, Mayor.

It's up to God to do the judging. You haven't walked in my boots, so how are you going to judge me?

Even injustice has it's good points. It gives me the challenge of being as happy as I can in an unfair world.

Our little systems have their day; They have their day and cease to be… And thou, O Lord, art more than they.

Insanity hovered close at hand, like an eager waiter at an expensive restaurant.

I am a ceiling fan, especially during rain.

The maternal impulse in animals to protect their young - that kind of instinct and subsequent violence is quite beautiful. Mythic even.

I see the reports of Anson Hunter's death have been greatly exaggerated... and I trust so are his war stories.

I'm not a martyr, just a musician who dies for your sins. Oh, that's what a martyr is? Very well then, I am a martyr, if you insist.