I was learning the importance of names – having them, making them – but at the same time I sensed the dangers. Recognition was followed by oblivion, a yawning maw whose victims disappeared without a trace.
Each time I leaped I seemed to touch the sky and when I regained earth it seemed to be mine alone.
God dislikes evil, and no happiness can be built on hate. Love one another as brothers.
Art is an elastic sort of love.
I have two loves: my country and Paris.
When I was a child and they burned me out of my home, I was frightened and I ran away. Eventually I ran far away. It was to a place called France. Many of you have been there, and many have not. But I must tell you, ladies and gentlemen, in that country I never feared. It was like a fairyland place.
I like Frenchmen very much, because even when they insult you they do it so nicely.
I spent 30 minutes each morning rubbing my body with half a lemon to lighten my skin.
I believe if the white and colored people could get together and be let alone, they would understand each other and consequently love each other.
One dance had made me the most famous colored woman in the world.
The secret to the fountain of youth is to think youthful thoughts.
I wanted to get far away from those who believed in cruelty, so then I went to France, a land of true freedom, democracy, equality and fraternity.
The old Catholic parties hounded me with a Christian hatred from station to station, city to city, one stage to another.
What am I most ashamed of in my life? Not keeping my promise to my sister and being too scared of America to attend her funeral.
I love performing. I shall perform until the day I die.
The white imagination is sure something when it comes to blacks.
Since I personified the savage on the stage, I tried to be as civilized as possible in daily life.
Is that what they call a vocation, what you do with joy as if you had fire in your heart, the devil in your body?
Oh, you young people act like old men. You have no fun.
I think they must mix blood, otherwise the human race is bound to degenerate. Mixing blood is marvelous. It makes strong and intelligent men. It takes away tired spirits.