I always looked upon the acts of racist exclusion, or insult, as pitiable, from the other person. I never absorbed that. I always thought that there was something deficient about such people.

Quote by Toni Morrison

Topics: Toni Morrison Quotes

Beloved, you are my sister, you are my daughter, you are my face; you are...

Beloved, you are my sister, you are my daughter, you are my face; you are...

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or...

I think some aspects of writing can be taught. Obviously, you can't teach vision or...

Black boys became criminalized. I was in constant dread for their lives, because they were...

Black boys became criminalized. I was in constant dread for their lives, because they were...

Some Native American writers enjoy being called Native American writers.

Some Native American writers enjoy being called Native American writers.

I'm always annoyed about why black people have to bear the brunt of everybody else's...

I'm always annoyed about why black people have to bear the brunt of everybody else's...

In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.

In this country American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate.

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

You marvel at the economy and this choice of words. How many ways can you...

I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me.

I'm a controversial figure. My friends either dislike me or hate me.

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.

If you surrendered to the air, you could ride it.

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

If there's a book you really want to read but it hasn't been written yet,...

Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf

Birth, life, and death -- each took place on the hidden side of a leaf

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

Freeing yourself was one thing; claiming ownership of that freed self was another.

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

Schools must stop being holding pens to keep energetic young people off the job market...

Schools must stop being holding pens to keep energetic young people off the job market...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange...

All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where...

All water has a perfect memory and is forever trying to get back to where...

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.

It's been mentioned or suggested that Paradise will not be well studied, because it's about...

It's been mentioned or suggested that Paradise will not be well studied, because it's about...

Women's rights is not only an abstraction, a cause; it is also a personal affair....

Women's rights is not only an abstraction, a cause; it is also a personal affair....

A lot of black people believe that Jews in this country have become white. They...

A lot of black people believe that Jews in this country have become white. They...