Langston Hughes Quotes

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. – Langston Hughes

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. – Langston Hughes

Life is for the living. Death is for the dead. Let life be like music. And death a note unsaid. – Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore — and then run? – Langston Hughes

I swear to the Lord, I still can’t see why Democracy means Everybody but me. – Langston Hughes

I’ve known rivers: ancient dusky rivers. My soul has grown deep like the rivers. – Langston Hughes

Negroes – sweet and docile, meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day they change their mind. – Langston Hughes

I, too, am America. – Langston Hughes

Let the pimps represent pimps, the dykes represent dykes, and let the Negroes represent humanity. – Langston Hughes

America was never America to me. – Langston Hughes

I am young, black, and beautiful, true, but I am not your masterpiece. – Langston Hughes

I tire so of hearing people say, ‘Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day!’ I do not need my freedom when I’m dead. I cannot live on tomorrow’s bread. – Langston Hughes

Democracy will not come Today, this year nor ever Through compromise and fear. – Langston Hughes

We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain free within ourselves. – Langston Hughes

I will take the dream I had last night and put it in my freezer, so someday long and full of ice, it will have a better chance to survive. – Langston Hughes

Sometimes there’s a difference between love and sex. Sometimes you can love and be loved and still feel nothing. – Langston Hughes

I understand that in reality they burst out into tears often because they don’t realize that I can belong to them. – Langston Hughes

They’ll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed – I, too, am America. – Langston Hughes

When people care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul. – Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? – Langston Hughes

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. – Langston Hughes

I have known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins. – Langston Hughes

Life is fine! Fine as wine! Life is fine! – Langston Hughes

You can’t separate the singer from the songs. – Langston Hughes

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day; I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way. – Langston Hughes

Like a welcome summer rain, humor may suddenly cleanse and cool the earth, the air and you. – Langston Hughes

I have discovered in life there is no real safety except for self-belief. – Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. – Langston Hughes

Time is a stupid word. – Langston Hughes

I am a Negro: black as the night is black, black like the depths of my Africa. – Langston Hughes

My soul has grown deep like the rivers. – Langston Hughes

All the books that people want to ban were written by human beings just like any other books. – Langston Hughes

I know what the caged bird feels, alas! – Langston Hughes

You never been hungry? – Langston Hughes

You don’t have to worry about me – I got a big fine pistol. – Langston Hughes

Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. – Langston Hughes

I asked for help; I called for you. Why don’t you answer? – Langston Hughes

Democracy don’t mean nothing without sincere action. – Langston Hughes

You can’t live in Harlem without learning to smell the melodies. – Langston Hughes

I went to the pawnshop and I pawned my Redskins hat and overcoat for $7.50. – Langston Hughes

Colored children to us, the United States: When will we be recognized as beautiful and as fair? – Langston Hughes

Freedom is never free. – Langston Hughes

America never was America to me. Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above. – Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? – Langston Hughes

The sea is a hungry dog, Giant and grey. He rolls on the beach all day. With his clashing teeth and shaggy jaws Hour upon hour he gnaws The rumbling, tumbling stones, And ‘Bones, bones, bones, bones!’ The giant sea-dog moans, Licking his greasy paws. – Langston Hughes