Quotes By Nikki Giovanni

I think one of the nicest things that we created as a generation was just the fact that we could say, 'Hey, I don't like white people.'

A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it.

Art is not for the cultivated taste. It is to cultivate taste.

Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts.

I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try.

The catchword I use with my classes is: The authority of the writer always overcomes the skepticism of the reader.

There're two people in the world that are not likeable: a master and a slave.

When you are skinning your customers, you should leave some skin on to grow again so that you can skin them again.

I am proud of the hip hop generation. They are good business people and, actually, good people.

I appreciate and enjoy my age.

White people really deal more with God and black people with Jesus.

The poet Melvin B. Tolson once said, 'A civilization is judged only in its decline.' That made sense to me. I would imagine the same is true for poets and tennis players.

You must invent your own games and teach us old ones how to play.

Some say we are responsible for those we love. Others know we are responsible for those who love us.

Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream - they go together.

Now, everything I do, I do because I want to. And I believe the best is yet to come.

We eat up artists like there's going to be a famine at the end.

A lot of people refuse to do things because they don't want to go naked, don't want to go without guarantee. But that's what's got to happen. You go naked until you die.

There are things you stand up for because it's right.

We believe 'Peter Rabbit' because Beatrix Potter believes it. You have to.

Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying.

I had a really nice childhood; I had great parents. I earned my allowance by washing dishes, and in the summer I earned my allowance by working in daddy's garden.

We love because it's the only true adventure.

Favorite poems are like favorite children. We definitely have them but we never tell as the others would have their feelings hurt.

Sacred cows make very poor gladiators.

Hip-hop is a cultural expression - it's embracing.

Follow your image as far as you can no matter how useless you think it is. Push yourself.

I spend a lot of time learning about bird watching.

I'm just totally fascinated by people.

If you know what you're talking about, or if you feel that you do, the reader will believe you.