We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse.

When Charity is deeply rooted in the soul it shows itself exteriorly: there is so gracious a way of refusing what we cannot give, that the refusal pleases as much as the gift

Sometimes it seems as if I have spent the first half of my life refusing to let white people define me and the second half refusing to let black people define me

You can only stop the flow of thoughts by refusing to have any interest in it.

Many religions now come before us with ingratiating smirks and outspread hands, like an unctuous merchant in a bazaar. They offer consolation and solidarity and uplift, competing as they do in a marketplace. But we have a right to remember how barbarically they behaved when they were strong and were making an offer that people could not refuse.

Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to that arrogant oligarchy who merely happen to be walking around.

I refuse to grow up. I won’t become the adult guy.

Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused.

People who soar, are those who refuse to sit back and wish things would change

Self-esteem comes from being able to define the world in your own terms and refusing to abide by the judgments of others.