Ralph Ellison Quotes

Top 96 wise famous quotes and sayings by Ralph Ellison

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Ralph Ellison Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Ralph Ellison on Wise Famous Quotes.

Ralph Ellison quotes: And yet I am what they think I am. And yet I am what they think I am.
Ralph Ellison quotes: And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone's way but my own. And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone's way but my own.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The clock ticked with empty urgency, as though trying to catch up with the time. In the street a siren howled. The clock ticked with empty urgency, as though trying to catch up with the time. In the street a siren howled.
Ralph Ellison quotes: It was unbelievable, but perhaps only the unbelievable could be believed. Perhaps the truth was always a lie. It was unbelievable, but perhaps only the unbelievable could be believed. Perhaps the truth was always a lie.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The work of art is, after all, an act of faith in our ability to communicate symbolically. The work of art is, after all, an act of faith in our ability to communicate symbolically.
Ralph Ellison quotes: When I discover who I am, I'll be free. When I discover who I am, I'll be free.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Running from the birds to what, I didn't know. I ran. Why was I here at all? I ran through the night, ran within myself. Ran. Running from the birds to what, I didn't know. I ran. Why was I here at all? I ran through the night, ran within myself. Ran.
Ralph Ellison quotes: In order to travel far you have to be detached. In order to travel far you have to be detached.
Ralph Ellison quotes: I could hardly get to sleep for dreaming of revenge. I could hardly get to sleep for dreaming of revenge.
Ralph Ellison quotes: An illusion was creating a counter-illusion. Where would it end? Did they believe their own propaganda? Afterwards An illusion was creating a counter-illusion. Where would it end? Did they believe their own propaganda? Afterwards
Ralph Ellison quotes: Nothing ever stops; it divides and multiplies, and I guess sometimes it gets ground down superfine, but it doesn't just blow away. Nothing ever stops; it divides and multiplies, and I guess sometimes it gets ground down superfine, but it doesn't just blow away.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Power, for the writer ... .lies in his ability to reveal if only a little bit more about the complexity of humanity. Power, for the writer ... .lies in his ability to reveal if only a little bit more about the complexity of humanity.
Ralph Ellison quotes: If social protest is antithetical to art, what then shall we make of Goya, Dickens, and Twain? If social protest is antithetical to art, what then shall we make of Goya, Dickens, and Twain?
Ralph Ellison quotes: And I knew that it was better to live out one's absurdity than to die for that of others. And I knew that it was better to live out one's absurdity than to die for that of others.
Ralph Ellison quotes: What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do? What and how much had I lost by trying to do only what was expected of me instead of what I myself had wished to do?
Ralph Ellison quotes: I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Nothing, storm or flood, must get in the way of our need for light and ever more and brighter light. The truth is the light and light is the truth. Nothing, storm or flood, must get in the way of our need for light and ever more and brighter light. The truth is the light and light is the truth.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Words are your business, boy. Not just the word. Words are everything. The key to the rock, the answer to the question. Words are your business, boy. Not just the word. Words are everything. The key to the rock, the answer to the question.
Ralph Ellison quotes: His name was Clifton and he was black and they shot him. Isn't that enough to tell? Isn't it all you need to know? His name was Clifton and he was black and they shot him. Isn't that enough to tell? Isn't it all you need to know?
Ralph Ellison quotes: Perhaps to lose a sense of where you are implies the danger of losing a sense of who you are. Perhaps to lose a sense of where you are implies the danger of losing a sense of who you are.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Good fiction is made of that which is real, and reality is difficult to come by. Good fiction is made of that which is real, and reality is difficult to come by.
Ralph Ellison quotes: When American life is most American it is apt to be most theatrical. When American life is most American it is apt to be most theatrical.
Ralph Ellison quotes: I do not know if all cops are poets, but I know that all cops carry guns with triggers. I do not know if all cops are poets, but I know that all cops carry guns with triggers.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Boy on a Train From Boy on a Train From
Ralph Ellison quotes: Having tried to give pattern to the chaos which lives within the pattern of your certainties, I must come out, I must emerge. Having tried to give pattern to the chaos which lives within the pattern of your certainties, I must come out, I must emerge.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Imitation is suicide, envy is ignorance. Imitation is suicide, envy is ignorance.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The understanding of art depends finally upon one's willingness to extend one's humanity and one's knowledge of human life. The understanding of art depends finally upon one's willingness to extend one's humanity and one's knowledge of human life.
Ralph Ellison quotes: But live you must, and you can either make passive love to your sickness or burn it out and go on to the next conflicting phase. But live you must, and you can either make passive love to your sickness or burn it out and go on to the next conflicting phase.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Times are grave and you seem very indignant. Times are grave and you seem very indignant.
Ralph Ellison quotes: I am nobody but myself. I am nobody but myself.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Without the possibility of action, all knowledge comes to one labeled 'file and forget.' Without the possibility of action, all knowledge comes to one labeled 'file and forget.'
Ralph Ellison quotes: Boo'ful," she said, "life could be so diff'rent - ""But it never is," I said. Boo'ful," she said, "life could be so diff'rent - "
"But it never is," I said.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Though invisible I would be their assuring voice of denial; Though invisible I would be their assuring voice of denial;
Ralph Ellison quotes: The world is just as concrete, ornery, vile, and sublimely wonderful as before, only now I better understand my relation to it and it to me. The world is just as concrete, ornery, vile, and sublimely wonderful as before, only now I better understand my relation to it and it to me.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Education is all a matter of building bridges. Education is all a matter of building bridges.
Ralph Ellison quotes: And in order for the Negro to fulfill his duty as a citizen it was often necessary that he fight for his self-affirmed right to fight. And in order for the Negro to fulfill his duty as a citizen it was often necessary that he fight for his self-affirmed right to fight.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Let man keep his many parts and you'll have no tyrant states. Let man keep his many parts and you'll have no tyrant states.
Ralph Ellison quotes: And while the ice was melting to form a flood in which I threatened to drown I awoke one afternoon to find that my first northern winter had set. And while the ice was melting to form a flood in which I threatened to drown I awoke one afternoon to find that my first northern winter had set.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The antidote to hubris, to overweening pride, is irony, that capacity to discover and systematize ideas. The antidote to hubris, to overweening pride, is irony, that capacity to discover and systematize ideas.
Ralph Ellison quotes: too much of your life will be lost, its meaning lost, unless you approach it as much through love as through hate. too much of your life will be lost, its meaning lost, unless you approach it as much through love as through hate.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Meaning grows in the mind, but the shape and form of the act remains. Meaning grows in the mind, but the shape and form of the act remains.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The world is a possibility if only you'll discover it. The world is a possibility if only you'll discover it.
Ralph Ellison quotes: They could laugh at him but they couldn't ignore him They could laugh at him but they couldn't ignore him
Ralph Ellison quotes: I'd been so fascinated by the notion, that I'd forgotten to measure what it was bringing forth. I'd been asleep, dreaming. I'd been so fascinated by the notion, that I'd forgotten to measure what it was bringing forth. I'd been asleep, dreaming.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead. The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The thing to do is to exploit the meaning of the life you have. The thing to do is to exploit the meaning of the life you have.
Ralph Ellison quotes: We look too much to museums. The sun coming up in the morning is enough. We look too much to museums. The sun coming up in the morning is enough.
Ralph Ellison quotes: For their most innocent words were acts of violence to which we of the campus were hypersensitive though we endured them not. For their most innocent words were acts of violence to which we of the campus were hypersensitive though we endured them not.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you? Who knows but that, on the lower frequencies, I speak for you?
Ralph Ellison quotes: Had the price of looking been blindness, I would have looked. Had the price of looking been blindness, I would have looked.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Live with your head in the lion's mouth. Live with your head in the lion's mouth.
Ralph Ellison quotes: You're very insistent, but I'm very busy. You're very insistent, but I'm very busy.
Ralph Ellison quotes: But on the other hand, it would be a great mistake to assume that the dead are absolutely powerless. But on the other hand, it would be a great mistake to assume that the dead are absolutely powerless.
Ralph Ellison quotes: All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. All my life I had been looking for something, and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was.
Ralph Ellison quotes: How could you treat a Negro as equal in war and then deny him equality during times of How could you treat a Negro as equal in war and then deny him equality during times of
Ralph Ellison quotes: Man's hope can paint a purple picture, can transform a soaring vulture into a noble eagle or moaning dove. Man's hope can paint a purple picture, can transform a soaring vulture into a noble eagle or moaning dove.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Some things are just too unjust for words, and too ambiguous for either speech or ideas. Some things are just too unjust for words, and too ambiguous for either speech or ideas.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Gin, jazz and dreams were not enough. Gin, jazz and dreams were not enough.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Ride 'em, cowboy. Give 'em hell and bananas. Ride 'em, cowboy. Give 'em hell and bananas.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike. The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Call me Jack-the-Bear, for I am in a state of hibernation. Call me Jack-the-Bear, for I am in a state of hibernation.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Be your own father, young man Be your own father, young man
Ralph Ellison quotes: because what is commonly assumed to be past history is actually as much a part of the living present as William Faulkner insisted. because what is commonly assumed to be past history is actually as much a part of the living present as William Faulkner insisted.
Ralph Ellison quotes: He's only a man. Remember that. He's only a man! He's only a man. Remember that. He's only a man!
Ralph Ellison quotes: Injustice wears ever the same harsh face wherever it shows itself. Injustice wears ever the same harsh face wherever it shows itself.
Ralph Ellison quotes: It's the little things that find us out, the little things we refuse to do in order to avoid doing the big things that can save us. It's the little things that find us out, the little things we refuse to do in order to avoid doing the big things that can save us.
Ralph Ellison quotes: I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time being ashamed. I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time being ashamed.
Ralph Ellison quotes: He only wanted to use me for something. Everyone wanted to use you for some purpose. He only wanted to use me for something. Everyone wanted to use you for some purpose.
Ralph Ellison quotes: while fiction is but a form of symbolic action, a mere game of "as if," therein lies its true function and its potential for effecting change. while fiction is but a form of symbolic action, a mere game of "as if," therein lies its true function and its potential for effecting change.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Eclecticism is the word. Like a jazz musician who creates his own style out of the styles around him, I play by ear. Eclecticism is the word. Like a jazz musician who creates his own style out of the styles around him, I play by ear.
Ralph Ellison quotes: For now I had begun to believe, despite all the talk of science around me, that there was a magic in spoken words. For now I had begun to believe, despite all the talk of science around me, that there was a magic in spoken words.
Ralph Ellison quotes: In those days it was either live with music or die with noise, and we chose rather desperately to live. In those days it was either live with music or die with noise, and we chose rather desperately to live.
Ralph Ellison quotes: My hole is warm and full of light. My hole is warm and full of light.
Ralph Ellison quotes: I ran away into the dark, laughing so hard I feared I might rupture myself. I ran away into the dark, laughing so hard I feared I might rupture myself.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Do they come to bury the others or to be entombed to give life or to receive it? Do they come to bury the others or to be entombed to give life or to receive it?
Ralph Ellison quotes: Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action. Hibernation is a covert preparation for a more overt action.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Dr. Gordon S. Seagrave, the famous "Burma Surgeon. Dr. Gordon S. Seagrave, the famous "Burma Surgeon.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat. Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
Ralph Ellison quotes: They were very much the same, each attempting to force his picture of reality upon me and neither giving a hoot in hell for how things looked to me. They were very much the same, each attempting to force his picture of reality upon me and neither giving a hoot in hell for how things looked to me.
Ralph Ellison quotes: they could talk and agree with themselves, the world was nailed down, and they loved it. They received a feeling of security. they could talk and agree with themselves, the world was nailed down, and they loved it. They received a feeling of security.
Ralph Ellison quotes: It takes a deep commitment to change and an even deeper commitment to grow. It takes a deep commitment to change and an even deeper commitment to grow.
Ralph Ellison quotes: A start is a start, and 'is' is 'is' not 'was'. A start is a start, and 'is' is 'is' not 'was'.
Ralph Ellison quotes: God is love, I said, but art's the possibility of forms, and shadows are the source of identity. God is love, I said, but art's the possibility of forms, and shadows are the source of identity.
Ralph Ellison quotes: All it takes to get along in this here man's town is a little shit, grit, and mother-wit. All it takes to get along in this here man's town is a little shit, grit, and mother-wit.
Ralph Ellison quotes: But we are all human, I thought, wondering what I meant. But we are all human, I thought, wondering what I meant.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Tell them to teach them that when they call you nigger to make a rhyme with trigger it makes the gun backfire Tell them to teach them that when they call you nigger to make a rhyme with trigger it makes the gun backfire
Ralph Ellison quotes: To see around corners is enough (that is not unusual when you are invisible). But to hear around them is too much; it inhibits action. To see around corners is enough (that is not unusual when you are invisible). But to hear around them is too much; it inhibits action.
Ralph Ellison quotes: If the word has the potency to revive and make us free, it has also the power to blind, imprison, and destroy. If the word has the potency to revive and make us free, it has also the power to blind, imprison, and destroy.
Ralph Ellison quotes: All dreamers and sleepwalkers must pay the price, and even the invisible victim is responsible for the fate of all. All dreamers and sleepwalkers must pay the price, and even the invisible victim is responsible for the fate of all.
Ralph Ellison quotes: To hell with being ashamed of what you liked. To hell with being ashamed of what you liked.
Ralph Ellison quotes: All boundaries down, freedom was not only the recognition of necessity, it was the recognition of possibility. All boundaries down, freedom was not only the recognition of necessity, it was the recognition of possibility.
Ralph Ellison quotes: Beware of those who speak of the spiral of history; they are preparing a boomerang. Keep a steel helmet handy Beware of those who speak of the spiral of history; they are preparing a boomerang. Keep a steel helmet handy
Ralph Ellison quotes: Commercial rock 'n' roll music is a brutalization of the stream of contemporary Negro church music an obscene looting of a cultural expression. Commercial rock 'n' roll music is a brutalization of the stream of contemporary Negro church music an obscene looting of a cultural expression.
Ralph Ellison quotes: And sometimes the difference between individual and organized indignation is the difference between criminal and political action. And sometimes the difference between individual and organized indignation is the difference between criminal and political action.
Ralph Ellison quotes: The truth is the light and the light is the truth. The truth is the light and the light is the truth.
Ralph Ellison quotes: I feel the need to reaffirm all of it, the whole unhappy territory and all the things loved and unloveable in it, for it is all part of me. I feel the need to reaffirm all of it, the whole unhappy territory and all the things loved and unloveable in it, for it is all part of me.

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