John Coltrane was an addict; Billie Holiday was an addict; Eugene O'Neill was an addict. What would America … - Cornel West

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Since the princes take the Earth for their own, it's fair that the philosophers reserve the sky for themselves and rule there, but they should never permit the entry of others.

Cornel West

John Coltrane was an addict; Billie Holiday was an addict; Eugene O'Neill was an addict. What would America be without addicts and post-addicts who make such grand contributions to our society?

America, Grand, Holiday, John, Our Society, Society

Same Author Quotes

Hope and optimism are different. Optimism tends to be based on the notion that there's enough evidence out there to believe things are gonna be better, much more rational, deeply secular, whereas hope looks at the evidence and says, "It doesn't look good at all. Doesn't look good at all. Gonna go beyond the evidence to create new possibilities based on visions that become contagious to allow people to engage in heroic actions always against the odds, no guarantee whatsoever. " That's hope. I'm a prisoner of hope, though. Gonna die a prisoner of hope.

Believe, Engage, Odds, Optimism, Things

You can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people if you don't serve the people.

Ifs, Lead, Love, People, Save, Serve

There is a price to pay for speaking the truth. There is a bigger price for living a lie.

Bigger, Living A Lie, Lying, Pay, Price, Truth

The country is in deep trouble. We've forgotten that a rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it. We need the courage to question the powers that be, the courage to be impatient with evil and patient with people, the courage to fight for social justice. In many instances we will be stepping out on nothing, and just hoping to land on something. But that's the struggle. To live is to wrestle with despair, yet never allow despair to have the last word.

Life, Hope, Country, Serving, Leave, Despair

You have to have a habitual vision of greatness. . . you have to believe in fact that you will refuse to settle for mediocrity. You won't confuse your financial security with your personal integrity, you won't confuse your success with your greatness or your prosperity with your magnanimity. . . believe in fact that living is connected to giving.

Believe, Greatness, Integrity, Magnanimity, Personal, Vision