Yet the ivory gods, And the ebony gods, And the gods of diamond-jade, Are only silly puppet gods That people themselves Have made.-.
Langston Hughes
Religion, Human Creation, Criticism, Idolatry, Materialism
Langston Hughes’s Quotes On Topics
Human Unity | Social Interaction | Sensory Experience | Loneliness | Education | Perseverance | Utopian Vision | Social Observation | Food | Inner Wisdom | Courage | Revolution | Expression | Transformation | Racial Divide | Personal History | Tranquility | Imagery | Misunderstanding | Literary Influences | More
More Langston Hughes Quotes
“While over Alabama earth These words are gently spoken: Serve and hate will die unborn. Love and chains are broken.” Langston Hughes
Love, Service, Hope, Social Change, Racial Harmony
Langston Hughes Love, Service, Hope, Social Change, Racial Harmony“I, too, sing America. I am the darker brother.” Langston Hughes
Identity, Patriotism, Racial Equality, Defiance, Poetic Declaration
Langston Hughes Identity, Patriotism, Racial Equality, Defiance, Poetic Declaration“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 don't dare start thinking in the morning. I don't dare start thinking in the morning. If I thought thoughts in bed, Them thoughts would bust my head – So I don't dare start thinking in the morning.” Langston Hughes
Fear, Anxiety, Overthinking, Mental Barriers, Psychological Struggle
Langston Hughes Fear, Anxiety, Overthinking, Mental Barriers, Psychological Struggle“Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life.” Langston Hughes
Simple Pleasures, Love, Life, Personal Enjoyment, Fulfillment
Langston Hughes Simple Pleasures, Love, Life, Personal Enjoyment, Fulfillment“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“I asked you, baby, If you understood- You told me that you didn’t, But you thought you would.” Langston Hughes
Communication, Misunderstanding, Relationships, Expectation, Dialogue
Langston Hughes Communication, Misunderstanding, Relationships, Expectation, Dialogue“What a difference a border makes: on one side of an invisible line, food; on the other side, none. On one side, peace. On the other side, war. On one side, quiet in the sunlight. On the other side the dangerous chee-eep, chee-eep, chee-eep, that was not birds, the BANG! of shells, the whine of sirens, and the bursting of bombs over crowded cities.” Langston Hughes
Borders, War, Peace, Inequality, Global Politics
Langston Hughes Borders, War, Peace, Inequality, Global Politics“Humor is when the joke's on you but hits the other fellow first – before it boomerangs.” Langston Hughes
Humor, Self-deprecation, Human Nature, Social Observation, Wit
Langston Hughes Humor, Self-deprecation, Human Nature, Social Observation, Wit“There are certain very practical things American Negro writers can do. And must do. There's a song that says, "the time ain't long." That song is right. Something has got to change in America-and change soon. We must help that change to come.” Langston Hughes
Writing, Activism, Social Change, Racial Justice, Artistic Responsibility
Langston Hughes Writing, Activism, Social Change, Racial Justice, Artistic Responsibility“Sometimes a crumb falls From the tables of joy, Sometimes a bone Is flung. To some people Love is given, To others Only heaven.” Langston Hughes
Inequality, Fate, Love, Social Commentary, Metaphorical Imagery
Langston Hughes Inequality, Fate, Love, Social Commentary, Metaphorical Imagery“Even the 'Negro' shows like 'Amos and Andy' and 'Beulah' are written largely by white writers - the better to preserve the stereotypes, I imagine.” Langston Hughes
Racism, Media Representation, Stereotypes, Cultural Critique, Social Commentary
Langston Hughes Racism, Media Representation, Stereotypes, Cultural Critique, Social Commentary“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“In all my life, I have never been free. I have never been able to do anything with freedom, except in the field of my writing.” Langston Hughes
Freedom, Writing, Oppression, Self-expression, Creativity
Langston Hughes Freedom, Writing, Oppression, Self-expression, Creativity“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“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“Lawrence has a wonderful hill in it, with a university on top and the first time I ran away from home, I ran up the hill and looked across the world: Kansas wheat fields and the Kaw River, and I wanted to go some place, too. I got a whipping for it.” Langston Hughes
Childhood, Wanderlust, Adventure, Punishment, American Landscape
Langston Hughes Childhood, Wanderlust, Adventure, Punishment, American Landscape“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