Great Throughts Treasury

"I believe we are here on earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place... Life is to be lived to its fullest so that death is just another chapter. Memories of our lives, our works and our deeds will continue in others."

"All I was doing was trying to get home from work."

"Arrest me for sitting on a bus? You may do that."

"At the time I was arrested I had no idea it would turn into this. It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in."

"Because my mother and her sister could get both our tonsils removed for the price of one, they went ahead and had us both operated on."

"Believing in yourself takes courage. Facing the future takes hope. Carry both in your heart."

"Each person must live their life as a model for others."

"Have you ever been hurt and the place tries to heal a bit, and you just pull the scar off of it over and over again."

"I am 83 years old, and I have come to realize that there is always more in life to learn. I just started taking swimming lessons last year. I ask a lot of questions during my swimming lessons. You can drown yourself with problems if you do not ask questions."

"I believe all of us – young people and adults – should have people we look up to as examples."

"I did not want to be continually humiliated over something I had no control over. The color of my skin."

"I didn't want to pay my fare and then go around the back door, because many times, even if you did that, you might not get on the bus at all. They'd probably shut the door, drive off, and leave you standing there."

"I do the very best I can to look upon life with optimism and hope and looking forward to a better day, but I don't think there is anything such as complete happiness. It pains me that there is still a lot of Klan activity and racism. I think when you say you're happy, you have everything that you need and everything that you want, and nothing more to wish for. I haven't reached that stage yet."

"I had given up my seat before, but this day, I was especially tired. Tired from my work as a seamstress, and tired from the ache in my heart."

"I had no idea that history was being made. I was just tired of giving in."

"I had no idea when I refused to give up my seat on that Montgomery bus that my small action would help put an end to the segregation laws in the South. I only knew that I was tired of being pushed around."

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear."

"I knew I was sitting in the right seat."

"I knew someone had to take the first step and I made up my mind not to move."

"I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Well, I’m going to have you arrested.’ Then I said, ‘You may do that.’ These were the only words we said to each other."

"I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people."

"I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free."

"If we place our hope in becoming the best we can be, then we as a human race will always be advancing."

"I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen."

"In fact if I had let myself think too deeply about what might happen to me, I might have gotten off the bus. But I chose to remain."

"It demonstrated how little regard segregationists had for the lives of black people and the lengths they would go to, to keep us in fear."

"It took a lot of courage to be a plaintiff. You could be risking your life."

"It was not pre-arranged. It just happened that the driver made a demand and I just didn't feel like obeying his demand. I was quite tired after spending a full day working."

"It was time for someone to stand up – or in my case, sit down. I refused to move."

"Life should not be taken for granted."

"Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others."

"My only concern was to get home after a hard day's work."

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

"Our mistreatment was just not right, and I was tired of it."

"People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true… No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in."

"Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome."

"Some people have me believe, when they talk with me, that I have influenced their lives in many ways."

"The more we gave in and complied, the worse they treated us."

"Whatever my individual desires were to be free, I was not alone. There were many others who felt the same way."

"Why do you all push us around?"

"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right."