Hang yourself, poet, in your own words. Otherwise, you are dead.
Langston Hughes
Poetry, Authenticity, Artistic Integrity, Self-expression, Creative Challenge
Langston Hughes’s Quotes On Topics
Self-description | Greeting | Existential Reflection | Aspirations | Opportunity | Emotional Resilience | Nuclear Threat | Racial Equality | Joy | Reciprocity | African American History | Prejudice | Expectation | Borders | Health | Rhythm | Books | Cultural Critique | Humanity | Reading | More
More Langston Hughes Quotes
“Everybody should take each other as they are, white, black, Indians, Creole. Then there would be no prejudice, nations would get along.” Langston Hughes
Racial Harmony, Acceptance, Diversity, Peace, Ideal World
Langston Hughes Racial Harmony, Acceptance, Diversity, Peace, Ideal World“She worked for the Studevants, who treated her like a dog. She stood it. Had to stand it; or work for poorer white folks who would treat her worse; or go jobless.” Langston Hughes
Racial Discrimination, Labor, Survival, Injustice, Limited Choices
Langston Hughes Racial Discrimination, Labor, Survival, Injustice, Limited Choices“People up today and down tomorrow, working this week and fired the next, beaten and baffled, but determined not to be wholly beaten, buying furniture on the installment plan, filling the house with roomers to help pay the rent, hoping to get a new suit for Easter – and pawning that suit before the Fourth of July.” Langston Hughes
Struggle, Resilience, Poverty, Hope, American Life
Langston Hughes Struggle, Resilience, Poverty, Hope, American Life“I learnt that the only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it, even if in the beginning you think you can't do it at all.” Langston Hughes
Perseverance, Action, Motivation, Self-belief, Personal Growth
Langston Hughes Perseverance, Action, Motivation, Self-belief, Personal Growth“Peace We passed their graves: The dead men there, Winners or losers, Did not care. In the dark They could not see Who had gained The victory.” Langston Hughes
Death, Peace, War, Equality In Death, Existential Reflection
Langston Hughes Death, Peace, War, Equality In Death, Existential Reflection“Politics in any country in the world is dangerous. For the poet, politics in any country had better be disguised as poetry. Politics can be the graveyard of the poet. And only poetry can be his resurrection.” Langston Hughes
Politics, Poetry, Danger, Artistic Survival, Creative Expression
Langston Hughes Politics, Poetry, Danger, Artistic Survival, Creative Expression“America never was America to me, and yet I swear this oath - America will be!” Langston Hughes
America, Hope, Patriotism, Social Justice, Idealism
Langston Hughes America, Hope, Patriotism, Social Justice, Idealism“This morning I paid seventy cents for two little old dried-up slivers of bacon and one cockeyed egg. It took me till noon to get my appetite back.” Langston Hughes
Poverty, Humor, Economic Struggle, Food, Personal Anecdote
Langston Hughes Poverty, Humor, Economic Struggle, Food, Personal Anecdote“Folks, I'm telling you, birthing is hard and dying is mean- so get yourself a little loving in between.” Langston Hughes
Life, Love, Wisdom, Human Experience, Philosophical Advice
Langston Hughes Life, Love, Wisdom, Human Experience, Philosophical Advice“Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.” Langston Hughes
Time, Wisdom, Mortality, Learning, Life Lessons
Langston Hughes Time, Wisdom, Mortality, Learning, Life Lessons“I've been scared and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, Sun has baked me, Looks like between 'em they done Tried to make me Stop laughin', stop lovin', stop livin' – But I don't care! I'm still here!” Langston Hughes
Resilience, Perseverance, Adversity, Defiance, Survival
Langston Hughes Resilience, Perseverance, Adversity, Defiance, Survival“We Negro writers, just by being black, have been on the blacklist all our lives. Censorship for us begins at the color line.” Langston Hughes
Racism, Censorship, Writing, Black Experience, Social Criticism
Langston Hughes Racism, Censorship, Writing, Black Experience, Social Criticism“Bring me all of your dreams, You dreamer, Bring me all your Heart melodies That I may wrap them In a blue cloud-cloth Away from the too-rough fingers Of the world.” Langston Hughes
Dreams, Protection, Poetry, Inspiration, Emotional Safety
Langston Hughes Dreams, Protection, Poetry, Inspiration, Emotional Safety“Both of them were very good and kind – the one who went to church and the one who didn't. And no doubt from them I learned to like both Christians and sinners equally well.” Langston Hughes
Tolerance, Kindness, Religious Diversity, Personal Growth, Human Equality
Langston Hughes Tolerance, Kindness, Religious Diversity, Personal Growth, Human Equality“Hold fast to your dreams, for without them life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes
Dreams, Hope, Perseverance, Imagery, Motivation
Langston Hughes Dreams, Hope, Perseverance, Imagery, Motivation“If the government can set aside some spot for a elk to be a elk without being bothered, or a buffalo to be a buffalo without being shot down, there ought to be some place where a Negro can be a Negro without being Jim Crowed.” Langston Hughes
Racial Equality, Freedom, Social Justice, Civil Rights, Metaphor
Langston Hughes Racial Equality, Freedom, Social Justice, Civil Rights, Metaphor“Out of love, No regrets – Though the goodness Be wasted forever. Out of love, No regrets – Though the return Be never.” Langston Hughes
Love, Selflessness, Sacrifice, Emotional Resilience, Philosophical Reflection
Langston Hughes Love, Selflessness, Sacrifice, Emotional Resilience, Philosophical Reflection“Life dosent frighten me at all.” Langston Hughes
Courage, Resilience, Defiance, Personal Strength, Emotional Fortitude
Langston Hughes Courage, Resilience, Defiance, Personal Strength, Emotional Fortitude“A dog gets lonesome just like a human. He wants to associate with other dogs, but when they take him out, the poor dog is on a leash and cannot run around.” Langston Hughes
Loneliness, Freedom, Dog, Human Nature, Lonely Dog
Langston Hughes Loneliness, Freedom, Dog, Human Nature, Lonely Dog“They could not understand that there is some few people in the world who do good without being asked. It were a hot day, I were a little boy, and ice-cream cones are always good. And that man just looked at me and thought I would like one – which I did. That is one reason why I do not hate all white folks today because some white folks will do good without being asked or hauled up before the Supreme Court to have a law promulgated against them.” Langston Hughes
Kindness, Racial Relations, Childhood Memory, Prejudice, Human Goodness
Langston Hughes Kindness, Racial Relations, Childhood Memory, Prejudice, Human Goodness