"The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives."

"There's always someone asking you to underline one piece of yourself - whether it's Black, woman, mother, dyke, teacher, etc. - because that's the piece that they need to key in to. They want to dismiss everything else."

"Black women sharing close ties with each other, politically or emotionally, are not the enemies of Black men."

"In discussions around the hiring and firing of Black faculty at universities, the charge is frequently heard that Black women are more easily hired than are Black men."

"Wisdom principle 21 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 87."

"Wisdom principle 29 tells us that the journey of life is lesson 79."

"Little men with little minds and little imaginations go through life in little ruts, smugly resisting all changes which would jar their little worlds."

"The closing years of life are like the end of a masquerade party, when the masks are dropped."