"A humble soul understands that the beauty of life is found in its imperfections."

"Strive today so that tomorrow may stand upon solid ground. Remember this in moments of decisive trial — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The fact that the adult American Negro female emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerance. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors, and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance."

"Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time."

"The best advice I ever got was that knowledge is power and to keep reading."

"My relationship to power and authority is that I'm all for it. People need somebody to watch over them. Ninety-five percent of the people in the world need to be told what to do and how to behave."

"The spread of civilisation may be likened to a fire first, a feeble spark, next a flickering flame, then a mighty blaze, ever increasing in speed and power."

"Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men."