Top 15 Lorraine Hansberry Quotes

The thing that makes you exceptional, if you are at all, is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.

Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.

There is always something left to love. And if you ain’t learned that, you ain’t learned nothing.

Beneatha: Love him? There is nothing left to love.

Mama: There is always something left to love. And if you ain't learned that, you ain't learned nothing. (Looking at her) Have you cried for that boy today? I don't mean for yourself and for the family 'cause we lost the money. I mean for him: what he been through and what it done to him. Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain't through learning - because that ain't the time at all. It's when he's at his lowest and can't believe in hisself 'cause the world done whipped him so! when you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is.

"I want to fly! I want to touch the sun!"
"Finish your eggs first."

Child, when do you think is the time to love somebody the most? When they done good and made things easy for everybody? Well then, you ain't through learning-because that ain't the time at all...when you starts measuring somebody, measure him right, child, measure him right. Make sure you done taken into account what hills and valleys he come through before he got to wherever he is.

I wish to live because life has within it that which is good, that which is beautiful, and that which is love. Therefore, since I have known all of these things, I have found them to be reason enough and — I wish to live. Moreover, because this is so, I wish others to live for generations and generations and generations and generations.

"It isn't a circle — it is simply a long line — as in geometry, you know, one that reaches into infinity. And because we cannot see the end — we also cannot see how it changes. And it is very odd by those who see the changes — who dream, who will not give up — are called idealists...and those who see only the circle we call them the "realists"!"

"It's dangerous, son."
"What's dangerous?"
"When a man goes outside his house to look for peace."

Mama — Mama — I want so many things... I want so many things that they are driving me kind of crazy...

Beneatha: You didn't tell us what Alaiyo means... for all I know, you might be calling me Little Idiot or something...
...
Asagai: It means... it means One for Whom Bread — Food — Is Not Enough.

That's what being eccentric means — being natural.

Mama, you don’t understand. It’s all a matter of ideas, and God is just one idea I don’t acept. It’s not important. I am not going out and commit crimes or be immoral because I don’t believe in God. I don’t even think about it. It’s just that I get so tired of Him getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through its own stubborn effort. There simply is no God! There is only Man, and it’s he who makes miracles!

I'm just tired of hearing about God all the time. What has He got to do with anything?... I'm not going to be immoral or commit crimes because I don't believe. I don't even think about that. I just get so tired of Him getting the credit for things the human race achieves through its own effort. Now, there simply is no God. There's only man. And it's he who makes miracles.

Seem like God didn't see fit to give the black man nothing but dreams -but He did give us children to make them dreams seem worth while.