I must never write when I do not want to write.
Langston Hughes
Writing, Creativity, Self-discipline, Artistic Integrity, Personal Philosophy
Langston Hughes’s Quotes On Topics
Perspective | Sensory Experience | Recognition | Artistic Expression | Spiritual Growth | Reality | Racial Pride | Criticism | Blues | Emotional Solace | Emotional Experience | Political Commentary | Metaphor | Social Critique | Artistic Inspiration | Social Dynamics | Punishment | Personal Philosophy | Solidarity | Rivers | More
More Langston Hughes Quotes
“Sometimes I wish the public were equally aware of the men of our race in the cultural fields. You, for instance, have you ever bought a book by a Negro writer?” Langston Hughes
Representation, Literature, Racism, Cultural Awareness, Social Challenge
Langston Hughes Representation, Literature, Racism, Cultural Awareness, Social Challenge“An artist must be free to choose what he does, certainly, but he must also never be afraid to do what he might choose.” Langston Hughes
Art, Freedom, Courage, Creativity, Artistic Responsibility
Langston Hughes Art, Freedom, Courage, Creativity, Artistic Responsibility“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“Oh, God of Dust and Rainbows, Help us to see That without the dust the rainbow Would not be.” Langston Hughes
Hope, Spirituality, Balance, Life, Divine Assistance
Langston Hughes Hope, Spirituality, Balance, Life, Divine Assistance“I will not take 'but' for an answer. Negroes have been looking at democracy's 'but' too long.” Langston Hughes
Democracy, Racism, Determination, Civil Rights, Social Critique
Langston Hughes Democracy, Racism, Determination, Civil Rights, Social Critique“I was unhappy for a long time, and very lonesome, living with my grandmother. Then it was that books began to happen to me, and I began to believe in nothing but books and the wonderful world in books – where if people suffered, they suffered in beautiful language, not in monosyllables, as we did in Kansas.” Langston Hughes
Books, Loneliness, Escape, Literary World, Personal Growth
Langston Hughes Books, Loneliness, Escape, Literary World, Personal Growth“For my best poems were all written when I felt the worst. When I was happy, I didn’t write anything.” Langston Hughes
Writing, Creativity, Emotional State, Authenticity, Artistic Process
Langston Hughes Writing, Creativity, Emotional State, Authenticity, Artistic Process“It’s such a Bore Being always Poor.” Langston Hughes
Poverty, Frustration, Social Commentary, Economic Struggle, Human Condition
Langston Hughes Poverty, Frustration, Social Commentary, Economic Struggle, Human Condition“Open your heart, and life will provide unlimited abundance.” Langston Hughes
Hope, Optimism, Spirituality, Personal Growth, Inner Wisdom
Langston Hughes Hope, Optimism, Spirituality, Personal Growth, Inner Wisdom“A world I dream where black or white, whatever race you be, will share the bounties of the earth and every man is free.” Langston Hughes
Equality, Freedom, Racial Harmony, Utopian Vision, Social Justice
Langston Hughes Equality, Freedom, Racial Harmony, Utopian Vision, Social Justice“Blues had the pulse beat of the people who keep on going.” Langston Hughes
Blues, Resilience, Music, Cultural Expression, Perseverance
Langston Hughes Blues, Resilience, Music, Cultural Expression, Perseverance“Teach us all to do right, Lord, please, and to get along together with that atom bomb on this earth because I do not want it to fall on me-nor Thee-nor anybody living. Amen!” Langston Hughes
Prayer, Peace, Nuclear Threat, Morality, Human Unity
Langston Hughes Prayer, Peace, Nuclear Threat, Morality, Human Unity“Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air, and you.” Langston Hughes
Humor, Refreshment, Metaphor, Emotional Healing, Personal Growth
Langston Hughes Humor, Refreshment, Metaphor, Emotional Healing, Personal Growth“Bartender, tell this man to vacate my person.” Langston Hughes
Confrontation, Identity, Social Interaction, Assertiveness, Humor
Langston Hughes Confrontation, Identity, Social Interaction, Assertiveness, Humor“I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes, but I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong.” Langston Hughes
Racial Identity, Resilience, Social Commentary, Oppression, Humor
Langston Hughes Racial Identity, Resilience, Social Commentary, Oppression, Humor“These feet have walked ten thousand miles working for white folks and another ten thousand keeping up with colored.” Langston Hughes
Labor, Racial Experience, Endurance, Social Commentary, African American Life
Langston Hughes Labor, Racial Experience, Endurance, Social Commentary, African American Life“Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be.” Langston Hughes
America, Idealism, Social Criticism, National Identity, Hope
Langston Hughes America, Idealism, Social Criticism, National Identity, Hope“Once, when I were a child, I were kicked by a small mule. Neither the mule nor I had any sense. I were trying to make the mule go one way, but the mule was trying to make me go another. I were for hitching the mule onto a plow. The mule were for nibbling grass. So, after that kicking, I learned right then and there to respect animals and peoples when they are not of the same mind as you are.” Langston Hughes
Lesson, Respect, Childhood, Animal Wisdom, Personal Growth
Langston Hughes Lesson, Respect, Childhood, Animal Wisdom, Personal Growth