Author: Ralph Ellison

Quotes

Some people are your relatives but others are your ancestors, and you choose the ones you want to have as ancestors. You create yourself out of those values.

Some people are your relatives but others are your ancestors, and you choose the ones you want to have as ancestors. You create yourself out of those values.

- Ralph Ellison

The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.

The act of writing requires a constant plunging back into the shadow of the past where time hovers ghostlike.

- Ralph Ellison

I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time being ashamed.

I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time being ashamed.

- Ralph Ellison

The understanding of art depends finally upon one's willingness to extend one's humanity and one's knowledge of human life.

The understanding of art depends finally upon one's willingness to extend one's humanity and one's knowledge of human life.

- Ralph Ellison

Good fiction is made of that which is real, and reality is difficult to come by.

Good fiction is made of that which is real, and reality is difficult to come by.

- Ralph Ellison

Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.

Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.

- Ralph Ellison

If the word has the potency to revive and make us free, it has also the power to blind, imprison, and destroy.

If the word has the potency to revive and make us free, it has also the power to blind, imprison, and destroy.

- Ralph Ellison

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