"When too many Americans don't vote or participate, some see apathy and despair. I see disappointment and even outrage. And I believe that out of this frustration can come hope and action."

"Education and democracy have the same goal: the fullest possible development of human capabilities."

"I emphasize self-esteem, self-confidence, and dignity, not as an ideal, but as a real test of community organization. Without leadership development, community organizations do not have staying power."

"The first task in teaching is to bring to consciousness what the students already believe by virtue of their personal experiences about themselves and society."

"To leave a mark on the world, remember that the true master is an eternal student."

"You know, bad poetry I wrote in high school can still be found on the Internet, and, you know, there's a Web log of our college newspaper. You know, there's so many different stages of my creative development are sort of on-record if somebody were to choose to look for them."

"I doubt whether classical education ever has been or can be successfully carried out without corporal punishment."

"The beauty of the unknown is that the true master is an eternal student."