I acknowledge immense debt to the griots [tribal poets] of Africa - where today it is rightly said that when a griot dies, it is as if a library has burned to the ground. Alex Haley More Quotes by Alex Haley More Quotes From Alex Haley In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future. Alex Haley family meaningful inspirational In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage- to know who we are and where we have come from. Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum, an emptiness, and the most disquieting loneliness. Alex Haley vacuums adoption loneliness Racism is taught in our society, it is not automatic. It is learned behavior toward persons with dissimilar physical characteristics. Alex Haley unique-characteristics racist racism Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. Alex Haley grandmother life children The way to succeed is never quit. Thats it. But really be humble about it. Alex Haley perseverance humble success Every time an old person dies, it's like a library burning down. Alex Haley burning-down library persons Anytime you see a turtle up on top of a fence post, you know he had some help. Alex Haley turtles animal funny You can never enslave somebody who knows who he is. Alex Haley self-esteem knows I wasn't going to be one of those people who died wondering what if? I would keep putting my dreams to the test - even though it meant living with uncertainty and fear of failure. This is the shadowland of hope, and anyone with a dream must learn to live there. Alex Haley what-if dream people When you clench your fist, no one can put anything in your hand. Alex Haley educational fists hands In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep, to know our heritage, to know who we are and where we came from. Alex Haley lineage who-we-are heritage When you start about family, about lineage and ancestry, you are talking about every person on earth. Alex Haley alex family talking Either you deal with what is the reality, or you can be sure that the reality is going to deal with you. Alex Haley alex success reality You have to deal with the fact that your life is your life. Alex Haley acceptance inspirational facts Your attitude is everything. Believe in yourself and trust your material. To be a successful writer, write every single day where you feel like it or not. Never, never give up, and the world will reward you beyond your wildest dreams. Alex Haley giving-up dream attitude Many a young person tells me he wants to be a writer. I always encourage such people, but I also explain that there's a big difference between being a writer and writing. In most cases these individuals are dreaming of wealth and fame, not the long hours alone at the typewriter. You've got to want to write, I say to them, not want to be a writer. The reality is that writing is a lonely, private and poor-paying affair. For every writer kissed by fortune, there are thousands more whose longing is never requited. Even those who succeed often know long periods of neglect and poverty. I did. Alex Haley lonely dream writing Never completely encircle your enemy. Leave him some escape, for he will fight even more desperately if trapped. Alex Haley fighting ifs enemy In my writing, as much as I could, I tried to find the good, and praise it. Alex Haley black-history alex writing I can't feel Irish to save my soul, but it's a fact. Alex Haley soul feels facts The way to succeed is never quit. That's it. But really be humble about it. ... You start out lowly and humble and you carefully try to learn an accretion of little things that help you get there. Alex Haley humble time trying
