Ruby Dee

You have to learn how to be married. You have to learn to love somebody.

I pray with my whole soul that the divide-and-conquerers among us will not triumph over us. We need each other in this world so desperately.

Marriage, like love, is an aspiration. It's a process.

It is so calming, marriage.

I never thought about myself as an activist when we were coming along. I love the people I love. I didn't care whether they could be a Democrat, Republican, communist... anything but a racist.

I have this deep love for authors. I think that we don't do enough to encourage love of words and love of books.

My experience for myself as a performer is not one of high expectations.

When I was young, I dreamt of being a starlet in Hollywood. But there comes a point in every African American's life when you realize the limitations, that you could only play maids or some little supporting role. Even Lena Horne couldn't get good parts.

I think you mustn't tell your body, you mustn't tell your soul, 'I'm going to retire.' You may be changing your life emphasis, but there's still things that you have in mind to do that now seems the right time to do.

You're not supposed to go into business with the sole purpose of putting your neighbor out of business. This is not the United States of Corporate America.

We are all a tiger with feelings. An elephant who never forgets. We are tiger, panther, monkey - we are all of these things, all of the life rhythms.

My whole life is not defined by what Hollywood does.