It is a melancholy truth that even great men have their poor relations.

We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.

Nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. 

Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.

What you are will show in what you do.

If you can dream it, you can do it.

It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

Capital as such is not evil; it is its wrong use that is evil. Capital in some form or other will always be needed.

Movies can and do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.

My parents shared not only an improbable love, they shared an abiding faith in the possibilities of this nation. They would give me an African name, Barack, or blessed, believing that in a tolerant America your name is no barrier to success.

Many interviewers when they come to talk to me, think they're being progressive by not mentioning in their stories any longer that I'm black. I tell them, 'Don't stop now. If I shot somebody you'd mention it.'