Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni, Jr. Quotes
-
The only way you can grow is to let yourself make mistakes and create contradictions. As we learn new things, some of our old attitudes will change.
-
It's really just interesting to ask: why not? And see where that takes me.
-
Poetry is the most informative of all of the arts because everything comes down to poetry. No matter what it is we are describing, ultimately we use either a metaphor; or we say "that's poetry in motion." You drink a glass of wine and say, "that's poetry in a bottle." Everything is poetry, so I think we come down to emotional information. And that's what poetry conveys.
-
What's the difference between dragging a black man behind a truck in Jasper, Texas, and beating a white boy to death in Wyoming because he's gay?
-
We eat up artists like there's going to be a famine at the end.
-
Young people coming up who are having difficulty with their so-called celebrity need to get back into their lives. It's your life and you can't let the fact that you do something pretty good take away the joy of it.
-
I am ever fascinated by the human experience and by, actually, human beings.
-
I would put books on par with chocolate, because a good book is delicious.
-
[My] Books are like puppies and children: you love each one for different reasons. I don't actually have a favorite because, if I were honest, I'm always more excited about what is coming.
-
If you were a pure bolt of fire-cutting the skies I'd touch you-risking my life-not because I'm brave or strong, but because I'm fascinated by what the outcome would be.
-
I move on feeling and have learned to distrust those who don't.
-
I like what they're doing. I think they're doing a good job, and I know that a lot of people are upset by them. These are great young men and women, and they're bold, and they are saying to America, "Something's going to change." I'm very proud of them.
-
A lot of people refuse to do things because they don't want to go naked... . We as black people, we as people, we as the human species have got to get used to the fact we're not going to be right most of the time, not even when our intentions are good. We've got to go naked and see what happens.
-
You're only as good as your last book.
-
I used to go up to her house. She lived upstate [in New York] and I lived in Manhattan; you're living in a lot of noise and my career was being built. For me to spend time with Nina [Simone] is to spend a lot of quiet time.
-
Writers ... I think ... live on that fine line between insanity and genius.
-
The catchword I use with my classes is: The authority of the writer always overcomes the skepticism of the reader.
-
We obviously need the truth. We're living in a country of lies.
-
The unwillingness to try is worse than any failure.
-
I grow old though pleased with my memories The tasks I can no longer complete Are balanced by the love of the tasks gone past I offer no apology only this plea: When I am frayed and strained and drizzle at the end Please someone cut a square and put me in a quilt That I might keep some child warm And some old person with no one else to talk to Will hear my whispers And cuddle near
-
We love because it's the only true adventure.
-
Art offers sanctuary to everyone willing to open their Hearts as well as their Eyes.
-
I have not tried to tell the people anything. I have shared my views with the people but I have not tried to lead or correct them, assuming they need correction.
-
History is wonderful. We have so much we can learn if we would quit making ideology out of history, and just deal with what happened.