I'm always annoyed about why black people have to bear the brunt of everybody else's contempt. If we are not totally understanding and smiling, suddenly we're demons.

Quote by Toni Morrison

Topics: Toni Morrison Quotes

I get angry about things, then go on and work.

I get angry about things, then go on and work.

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she...

She is a friend of mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she...

I always looked upon the acts of racist exclusion, or insult, as pitiable, from the...

I always looked upon the acts of racist exclusion, or insult, as pitiable, from the...

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

When there is pain, there are no words. All pain is the same.

There is nothing of any consequence in education, in the economy, in city planning, in...

There is nothing of any consequence in education, in the economy, in city planning, in...

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

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

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph,...

At some point in life the world's beauty becomes enough. You don't need to photograph,...

Black people have always been used as a buffer in this country between powers to...

Black people have always been used as a buffer in this country between powers to...

I don't think a female running a house is a problem, a broken family. It's...

I don't think a female running a house is a problem, a broken family. It's...

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,...

One of my kids was born in 1968. There were going to be political difficulties,...

One of my kids was born in 1968. There were going to be political difficulties,...

The loneliest woman in the world is the woman without a close woman friend.

The loneliest woman in the world is the woman without a close woman friend.

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

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

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...

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...

No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. Or the...

No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. Or the...

The unflattering reviews are painful for short periods of time; the badly written ones are...

The unflattering reviews are painful for short periods of time; the badly written ones are...

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

There is no greater love than this. There is no greater gift that can ever...

There is no greater love than this. There is no greater gift that can ever...

Only when we eat up this planet will God give us another. We'll be remembered...

Only when we eat up this planet will God give us another. We'll be remembered...