Langston Hughes Quotes

American writer and social activist (1901–1967)

Langston Hughes (1 February 1902 – 22 May 1967) was an American poet, novelist, playwright, social activist and newspaper columnist.

From: Wikiquote (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Alternative Names: James Mercer Langston Hughes • James Langston Hughes

From Wikidata (CC0)

Showing quotes in randomized order to avoid selection bias. Click Popular for most popular quotes.

Out of the rack and ruin of our gangster death, The rape and rot of graft, and stealth, and lies, We, the people, must redeem The land, the mines, the plants, the rivers. The mountains and the endless plain — All, all the stretch of these great green states — And make America again!

When peoples care for you and cry for you, they can straighten out your soul.

Life is a egg you have to be patient and carefull with it or it will brake

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
flow of human blood in human veins.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
bosom turn all golden in the sunset.

I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.

My soul has grown deep like the rivers.

Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be.

I am the poor white, fooled and pushed apart, I am the Negro bearing slavery's scars. I am the red man driven from the land, I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek — And finding only the same old stupid plan Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.

Hold fast to dreams,
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird,
That cannot fly.

While over Alabama earth These words are gently spoken: Serve — and hate will die unborn. Love — and chains are broken.

Well, I like to eat, sleep, drink, and be in love. I like to work, read, learn, and understand life. I like a pipe for a Christmas present, or records — Bessie, bop, or Bach. I guess being colored doesn’t make me not like the same things other folks like who are other races.

I loved my friend
He went away from me
There's nothing more to say
The poem ends,
Soft as it began-
I loved my friend.

So since I'm still here livin',
I guess I will live on.
I could've died for love — But for livin' I was born.

Most musicians remain poor. But the music that they make, even if it does not bring them millions, gives millions of people happiness.

Good morning, Revolution: You're the very best friend I ever had. We gonna pal around together from now on

Though you may hear me holler,
And you may see me cry — I'll be dogged, sweet baby,
If you gonna see me die.

Why should it be my loneliness, Why should it be my song, Why should it be my dream deferred overlong?