Life for me has not been a crystal stair.
Langston Hughes
Struggle, Adversity, Perseverance, Metaphor, Life Journey
Langston Hughes’s Quotes On Topics
Comfort | Compassion | Artistic Journey | Progress | Historical Trauma | Human Connection | Self-defense | Expression | Inequality | Inner Wisdom | Racial Discrimination | Imagination | American Landscape | Personal Journey | African American History | Spiritual Growth | Cultural Perspective | Social Criticism | Life Journey | Emancipation | More
More Langston Hughes Quotes
“Don't come giving me, who's old enough to die and too near blind to create anything any more anyhow, a great big banquet that you eat up in honor of your own stomachs as much as in honor of me- who's toothless and can't eat.” Langston Hughes
Aging, Recognition, Hypocrisy, Social Critique, Personal Dignity
Langston Hughes Aging, Recognition, Hypocrisy, Social Critique, Personal Dignity“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“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore – And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over – like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?” Langston Hughes
Dreams, Frustration, Anger, Racial Tension, Social Metaphor
Langston Hughes Dreams, Frustration, Anger, Racial Tension, Social Metaphor“Frosting Freedom Is just frosting On somebody else’s Cake – And so must be Till we Learn how to Bake.” Langston Hughes
Freedom, Empowerment, Metaphor, Social Justice, Equality
Langston Hughes Freedom, Empowerment, Metaphor, Social Justice, Equality“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“The depression brought everybody down a peg or two. And the Negro had but few pegs to fall.” Langston Hughes
Depression, Inequality, Racial Commentary, Economic Struggle, Social Critique
Langston Hughes Depression, Inequality, Racial Commentary, Economic Struggle, Social Critique“Looks like what drives me crazy Don’t have no effect on you – But I’m gonna keep on at it Till it drives you crazy, too.” Langston Hughes
Frustration, Persistence, Human Relationships, Humor, Social Dynamics
Langston Hughes Frustration, Persistence, Human Relationships, Humor, Social Dynamics“I am so tired of waiting, aren't you, for the world to become good and beautiful and kind?” Langston Hughes
Impatience, Hope, Idealism, Social Change, Frustration
Langston Hughes Impatience, Hope, Idealism, Social Change, Frustration“I stuck my head out the window this morning and spring kissed me bang in the face.” Langston Hughes
Spring, Joy, Nature, Sensory Experience, Poetic Expression
Langston Hughes Spring, Joy, Nature, Sensory Experience, Poetic Expression“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“Around the world-even in places where there is almost nothing, the rich, the beautiful, the talented, or the very clever can always get something; in fact, the best of whatever there is.” Langston Hughes
Inequality, Privilege, Global Perspective, Social Critique, Human Nature
Langston Hughes Inequality, Privilege, Global Perspective, Social Critique, Human Nature“As for reading books, even far-out books, even beatnik books, fine. Only there are not enough books for me down South, which is one reason I came to New York.” Langston Hughes
Reading, Literature, Cultural Access, Migration, Intellectual Freedom
Langston Hughes Reading, Literature, Cultural Access, Migration, Intellectual Freedom“Gather up In the arms of your love – Those who expect No love from above.” Langston Hughes
Love, Compassion, Human Kindness, Spiritual Disillusionment, Social Responsibility
Langston Hughes Love, Compassion, Human Kindness, Spiritual Disillusionment, Social Responsibility“Harriet Tubman lived to see the harvest.” Langston Hughes
Civil Rights, Historical Figures, Progress, Emancipation, African American History
Langston Hughes Civil Rights, Historical Figures, Progress, Emancipation, African American History“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Langston Hughes
Struggle, Progress, Perseverance, Motivation, Social Change
Langston Hughes Struggle, Progress, Perseverance, Motivation, Social Change“Gather quickly Out of darkness All the songs you know And throw them at the sun Before they melt Like snow.” Langston Hughes
Creativity, Urgency, Music, Metaphor, Inspiration
Langston Hughes Creativity, Urgency, Music, Metaphor, Inspiration“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“Writing is like travelling. It's wonderful to go somewhere, but you get tired of staying.” Langston Hughes
Writing, Creativity, Exploration, Metaphor, Artistic Journey
Langston Hughes Writing, Creativity, Exploration, Metaphor, Artistic Journey