Ruby Dee

It's getting increasingly difficult to be a dreamer under any circumstances.

The economics of life is against the family.

God has use for all the old people.

Black History Month is fine, but we need more months of the year to celebrate all the people on this earth. After all, we're all creatures of the same God.

African-Americans have a lot to teach the world.

I don't think the arts would have been as meaningful to me if I hadn't grown up in Harlem.

Racism is a very insidious thing. It's dangerous to the psyche, to mind and body. It erodes the self-confidence. And I don't know how we get through it.

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.

One reason I didn't trust my writing for so long was that I always considered myself a serious dramatic actor. But people would always laugh when I shared my writing with them. It took my husband to help me see that I really am part humorist.

A nation's youths shouldn't be sent off to die.

I didn't realize it until I was grown how necessary it is for good people to be tough.

I learned that having great sensitivity is important. But being strong is just as important.

I do remember the numbers runners, I do remember the poverty and bread lines. Harlem stays with you forever.

Well, I didn't grow up with that word 'retirement' as part of my consciousness. I didn't grow up with professionals that retired. I thought retiring was when you are tired and go to bed.

I have always been against the gangster as hero.

I really don't believe in retiring as long as you can breathe.

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.

There is a place for people 65 and older that no other age group can fit. We have nothing to lose. Some of us have a couple pennies. We can go out now and really be revolutionaries.

I shined shoes; I did windows.

You can't be all you are meant to be if you think you are better than others, and you can't be all you are meant to be if you think you are less than others, either.