I move on feeling and have learned to distrust those who don't.

— Nikki Giovanni

I'm told by my young friends that experience is much more important than books. Of course Ben Franklin had something to say about experience and fools, but even Franklin thought that a fool would learn by his experience. That has proven false in the modern world. Some people are simply unwilling to learn under any circumstances, which maybe, even then, wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so damned proud of it.

— Nikki Giovanni

I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-been. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure, but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try.

— Nikki Giovanni

It is not who you attend school with but who controls the school you attend.

— Nikki Giovanni

I want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy.

— Nikki Giovanni

Mistakes are a fact of life: It is the response to the error that counts.

— Nikki Giovanni

Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream - they go together.

— Nikki Giovanni

Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. Furthermore, we need confidence in our knowledge of who we are.

— Nikki Giovanni

The ability to take pride in your own work is one of the hallmarks of sanity.

— Nikki Giovanni

The trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. I say, the trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans.

— Nikki Giovanni