You don't need organized religion to connect with the universe. Often a church is the only place you can go to find peace and quiet... But it shouldn't be confused with connecting with one's spirit.

The long-term accommodation that protects marriage and other such relationships is ... forgetfulness.

She say, Celie, tell the truth, have you ever found God in church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show.

If you deny people their own voice, you'll have no idea of who they were.

As an elder of the Americas and of the rest of the planet, it is my responsibility to care for and protect, to the best of my ability, the young.

As you know from school, it's when you have not prepared for the test that you have the fear of failing. And if you have prepared, even if you fail, you've done your best.

Whoever you are, whatever you are, start with that, whether salt of the earth or only white sugar.

I'm the most stubborn person I know.

Yes, Mother. I can see you are flawed. You have not hidden it. That is your greatest gift to me.

In each of us, there is a little voice that knows exactly which way to go. And I learned very early to listen to it, even though it has caused so much grief and havoc, and I think that is the only answer.

The earth is wise. It has given itself into the keeping of all, and all are therefore accountable.

For me, writing has always come out of living a fairly to-the-bone kind of life, just really being present to a lot of life. The writing has been really a byproduct of that.

The three wealthiest people in the world own more than the GDP of forty-eight countries!

You must learn to love only that which cannot be stolen.

Whenever I have knocked, a door has opened. Wherever I have wandered, a path has appeared. I have been helped, supported, encouraged and nurtured by people of all races, creeds, colors and dreams.

It just seems clear to me that as long as we are all here, it's pretty clear that the struggle is to share the planet, rather than divide it.

I cry so much less than I used to. I used to be one of the most teary people.

I have learned not to worry about love; But to honor its coming with all my heart.

Helped are those who are shown the existence of the Creator's magic in the Universe; they shall experience delight and astonishment without ceasing.

Honestly, that is the most important thing to me: Can I continue to live up to my own expectations of myself -- and not fall back into slacking?