Gil Scott-Heron

You have to learn and keep learning.

Our accomplishments show what kind of people we are.

The revolution that takes place in your head, nobody will ever see that.

I found my grandmother dead. It shook me up. I got up to make her breakfast, and I knew it was strange that she wasn't stirring. I went in to wake her, and she was laying in rigor mortis, and I'm done. I called next door, and the kid picked up the phone, and I was so wild, he dropped it.

As for money - when I have it, it's great. When I don't, I go get some. I've been a dishwasher, a gardener, a cleaner.

I don't mind being criticized. I enjoy being criticized personally, not by rumor.

You should be able to do anything you can afford as an adult.

You know what has made me the happiest I've ever been? Seeing my son and daughter graduate from college. More than wanting them to be educated, I wanted them to be nice people. To see that they have become both is just a wonderful thing.

If you're supposed to be doing something, the spirits will come and help you. They have helped me out with lines I shouldn't have known, chords I shouldn't have known. Every once in a while I get lines from somewhere, and I think, I better write this down.

If someone comes to you and asks for help, and you can help them, you're supposed to help them. Why wouldn't you? You have been put in the position somehow to be able to help this person.

I am honestly not sure how capable I am of love. And I'm not sure why.

Your life has to consist of more than 'Black people should unite.' You hope they do, but not twenty-four hours a day.