If i can't have what i want . . . then my job is to want what i've got and be satisfied that at least there is something more to want Nikki Giovanni More Quotes by Nikki Giovanni More Quotes From Nikki Giovanni I am ever fascinated by the human experience and by, actually, human beings. Nikki Giovanni human-experience fascinated humans I try to impress upon my students the importance of looking, listening... paying attention, in other words. You must pay attention. Nikki Giovanni listening trying attention Most of my books are a two-year project. I tend to follow my heart and my mind and research materials where they take me. Nikki Giovanni heart book years Floating to shore...riding a low moon...on a slow cloud. Nikki Giovanni floating moon clouds A lot is yet to be enjoyed. I'd like to stomp grapes for wine. Go to Antarctica. Have dinner with Venus Williams who is the greatest tennis player ever. Nikki Giovanni tennis wine player My dream is a red dress Above my knees High-heel red sandals And me coming over the top The music booming Nikki Giovanni high-heels games dream And you will understand all too soon That you, my children of battle, are your heroes Nikki Giovanni battle hero children It's really just interesting to ask: why not? And see where that takes me. Nikki Giovanni take-me why-not interesting I think speeches and fruit should always be fresh. Nikki Giovanni fruit speech thinking The ability to take pride in your own work is one of the hallmarks of sanity. Nikki Giovanni sanity self-confidence pride God knows it's a sign of a really sick mind to see grown people, adults with responsibilities, wearing class rings. Nikki Giovanni responsibility class people Poetry is music though, unfortunately, not all music is poetry. Because music has other carriers to take its message - beats, lyrics, singers, bass players - anyone in music can rise to make a major statement but in poetry there are only words to do the work. And they do sometimes have to sweat. Nikki Giovanni bass sweat player Fanatics are, for one thing, boring and, for another, unreliable. They tend to burn out just when you need them. Nikki Giovanni burn-out boring needs All systems require myths for their longevity. Nikki Giovanni longevity myth Writers ... I think ... live on that fine line between insanity and genius. Nikki Giovanni genius insanity thinking You're only as good as your last book. Nikki Giovanni haircuts lasts book I am a big fan of the electronic book. I hate to see the old bookstores close, but they have to reinvent themselves. I believe the First Edition bookstore will be the next thing. People will read electronically, then decide they want to own that book. The author will then be invited to the old bookstores to sign. I think books will always be with us, but they will fill a different need. Nikki Giovanni hate believe book The trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. I say, the trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. Nikki Giovanni mars understood black I always like summer Nikki Giovanni summer For most of my life, I've thought of myself as pretty cool. Nikki Giovanni