At one time in my life, from the time I was seven until I was about 13, I didn't speak. I only spoke to my brother. The reason I didn't speak: I had been molested, and I told the name of the molester to my brother who told it to the family.

I was born in St. Louis but lived there just for a few minutes in my life.

Grow angry slowly – there’s plenty of time.

Let us leave hurry to slaves.

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now

“I suppose that’s one of the ironies of life doing the wrong thing at the right moment.

Remember, you can always stoop and pick up nothing.

I suppose that’s one of the ironies of life – doing the wrong thing at the right moment.

I'm very proud of my gold pocket watch. My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch.

If Saddam were to be replaced tomorrow he would probably be replaced with someone who's just as bad or worse than he is.

“Being graded for memorizing male accomplishments with the deep message that we can learn what others do but never do it ourselves.” 

“Feminism is memory.” 

“I'm not black on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and a woman on Thursday, Friday and Saturday” 

“There is history in what is dismissed as prehistory.” 

“The root of oppression is the loss of memory.” 

“Each others' lives are our best textbooks.” 

“The past is not what it was.”

“Over-civilization and barbarism are within an inch of each other. And a mark of both is the power of medicine-men.” 

“These are the days when the Christian is expected to praise every creed except his own.” 

“A fad or heresy is the exaltation of something which even if true, is secondary or temporary in its nature against those things which are essential and eternal, those things which always prove themselves true in the long run. In short, it is the setting up of the mood against the mind.”

I'm very emotional; I think I may go mad in several years' time.

I'm very emotional; I think I may go mad in several years' time.

The reason we're successful, darling? My overall charisma, of course

In the early days, we just wore black onstage. Very bold, my dear. Then we introduced white, for variety, and it simply grew and grew.