Quotessence
Home / Authors / Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni Quotes

Writer

Filter quotes by topic

AllPeopleThinkingIfsPoetryBlackPoemWantWritingNeedsAfrican AmericansBlacksKnowsNinaShouldWorldHumansBookLifeLovePoet

Famous Nikki Giovanni Quotes

“I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try.”

IfsThinkingLifeInspirationalTryingMindHas BeensI CanLife IsInspiringImagineInspirational LifeFailureForgivingAfrican AmericanImagine ThatCould Have BeenFear Of FailureOvercoming FailureAfrican American WomenFailure In LifeFailure InspirationalFear Of SuccessAfrican American LoveBlack Women InspirationalAfrican American Inspirational
Book:Sacred cows-- and other edibles
Create image

“you know a person is having a severe personality crisis if you see a high school class ring on a finger beyond the first semester in college. Male or female. It's a big sign saying nothing has mattered to my life since senior year.”

IfsKnowsYearsFirstsPersonsBigsSchoolClassCollegePersonalityHigh SchoolFemaleCrisisFingersMalesRingsSevereSeniorSenior YearSemesterSaying NothingSign SayingsHigh School Class
Book:Sacred cows-- and other edibles
Create image

“If you're creating a slave situation, you would almost never bring women. And if we look at Slavery for example, we look at the Greeks and the Romans, right? It was always men. They never brought any women. Because women carry the seeds of the revolution, right? And if you have the men by themselves, then you can do what the French did with the Blackfeet, which is breed them out.”

IfsMenLooksCan DoSituationExampleHe ManRevolutionCreatingSlaverySlaveSeedsGreek
Author:Nikki Giovanni
Create image

“I’m a big fan of history—applying the lessons as well as the joys and sadness. If we pay attention, we would see how we affect each other. In terms of time, we are not that far from one another. If we were to look back a century, it would seem like a long time; but, if we look at it by decades then it’s only 10 years, and by generations it’s only five.”

IfsYearsWellsLooksLongBigsSeemsJoyTermPayAttentionFiveGenerationsSadnessFansCenturyLessonsLong TimeDecadesPay AttentionJoy And Sadness
Author:Nikki Giovanni
Create image

“I used to dream militant dreams of taking over america to show these whitefolks how it should be done i used to dream radical dreams of blowing everyone away with my perceptive powers of correct analysis i even used to think that i'd be the one to stop the riot and negotiate the peace then i awoke & dug that if i dreamed natural dreams of being a natural woman doing what a woman does when she's natural i would have a revolution.”

IfsThinkingShouldDoeDoneShowsDreamAmericaUsedNaturalRevolutionRadicalAnalysisRiotMilitant
Book:Re:creation
Create image

“Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.”

IfsWorldNeedsHumansHandsSpiritGivenBlackWalksFeetStyleProveProfoundEnvyWho We AreHuman SpiritRottenScrapHamPeachesQuiltsDexterityCobblers
Author:Nikki Giovanni
Create image