I have written a song that says: If you ever lose someone dear to you, never say the words, "They're gone," and they'll come back.
— Prince
Most Powerful African Americans quotations
If you can be the best, then why not try to be the best?
Fighting is a sport; if you're not humble it's going to bring humbleness to you.
It doesn't matter how strong your opinions are.
If you don't use your power for positive change, you are, indeed, part of the problem.
Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live.
Develop enough courage so that you can stand up for yourself and then stand up for somebody else.
Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionarys life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.
If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.
In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope.
In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.
Deal with yourself as a individual, worthy of respect and make everyone else deal with you the same way.
Don't be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn't do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn't know what you know today.
I feel safe even in the midst of my enemies; for the truth is powerful and will prevail.
When you want to help people, you tell them the truth.
When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.
I have great belief in the fact that whenever there is chaos, it creates wonderful thinking. I consider chaos a gift.
When people tell me nothing has changed, I say come walk in my shoes and I will show you change.
I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera.
It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.
Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.
I believe unconditionally in the ability of people to respond when they are told the truth. We need to be taught to study rather than believe, to inquire rather than to affirm.
It is extremely rough to follow through with my goals, but I felt a responsibility to show the world what the African Americans are facing through this rough patch.
We have a wonderful history behind us.
... If you are unable to demonstrate to the world that you have this record, the world will say to you, 'You are not worthy to enjoy the blessings of democracy or anything else'.
Unhappiness does not come from the way things are, but from the difference between how things are and how we think they should be
We, as human beings, must be willing to accept people who are different from ourselves.
Never mind what haters say, ignore them 'til they fade away.
The Lord was pleased to strengthen us, and remove all fear from us, and disposed our hearts to be as useful as possible.
Violence is black children going to school for 12 years and receiving 6 years' worth of education.
Don't settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. We need to live the best that's in us.
Do not bring people in your life who weigh you down.
And trust your instincts ... good relationships feel good. They feel right. They don't hurt. They're not painful. That's not just with somebody you want to marry, but it's with the friends that you choose. It's with the people you surround yourselves with.
I'll tell you how I'd like to be remembered: As a black man who won the heavyweight title - Who has humorous and who never looked down on those who looked up to him - A man who stood for freedom, justice and equality - And I wouldn't even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.
The truth is... everything counts. Everything. Everything we do and everything we say. Everything helps or hurts; everything adds to or takes away from someone else.
No one will really understand politics until they understand that politicians are not trying to solve our problems. They are trying to solve their own problems - of which getting elected and re-elected are number one and number two. Whatever is number three is far behind.
In order for us as poor and oppressed people to become part of a society that is meaningful, the system under which we now exist has to be radically changed... It means facing a system that does not lend its self to your needs and devising means by which you change that system.
A man is a man, until that man finds a plan, a plan that makes that man, a new man
In the dark times, if you have something to hold on to, which is yourself, you'll survive.
You are on the eve of a complete victory. You can't go wrong. The world is behind you.