Claude McKay Professions : Writer Born : September 15, 1889 Died : May 22, 1948 Browse All Authors Top 15 quotes by Claude McKay If a man is not faithful to his own individuality, he cannot be loyal to anything. Claude McKay faith inspirational men Human dignity is more precious than prestige. Claude McKay human-dignity dignity prestige I know the dark delight of being strange, The penalty of difference in the crowd, The loneliness of wisdom among fools. Claude McKay differences loneliness dark If we must die, let it not be like hogs Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, If we must die, O let us nobly die. Claude McKay hog spots dignity We are like trees. We wear all colors naturally. Claude McKay color tree Nations, like plants and human beings, grow. And if the development is thwarted they are dwarfed and overshadowed. Claude McKay grows plant development It's when you are down that you learn about your faults. Claude McKay faults Idealism is like a castle in the air if it is not based on a solid foundation of social and political realism. Claude McKay political air reality If we must die, O let us nobly die. Claude McKay dies ifs And, hungry for the old, familiar ways, I turned aside and bowed my head and wept. Claude McKay hungry familiar way Adventure-seasoned and storm-buffeted, Claude McKay zest law adventure Upon the clothes behind the tenement, That hang like ghosts suspended from the lines, Linking each flat, but to each indifferent, Incongruous and strange the moonlight shines. Claude McKay clothes lines shining Deep in the secret chambers of my heart I muse my life-long hate, and without flinch I bear it nobly as I live my part. Claude McKay hate heart long The shivering birds beneath the eaves Have sheltered for the night. Claude McKay bird night I have forgotten much, but still remember The poinsiana's red, blood-red in warm December. Claude McKay december red blood Similar Authors Ihab Hassan writer Ingmar Bergman writer Isabella Bird writer Ivan E. Coyote writer Al Feldstein writer Bert Sugar writer All Authors