29 Quotes & Sayings By Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni, born Nikki Ann Giovanni in the Bronx, New York City, is an American poet and author who has written more than 40 books of poetry and prose. She has been nominated for many awards and is the recipient of a Grammy and two National Book Awards. She has also received a Guggenheim Fellowship and the National Humanities Medal from President Barack Obama.

I love you because no two snowflakes are alike, and...
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I love you because no two snowflakes are alike, and it is possible, if you stand tippy-toe, to walk between the raindrops. Nikki Giovanni
The world is not a pleasant place to be without...
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The world is not a pleasant place to be without someone to hold and be held by. Nikki Giovanni
And sometimes I sitdown at my typewriterand I thinknot of...
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And sometimes I sitdown at my typewriterand I thinknot of someonecause there isn't anyoneto thinkabout and i wonderis it worth it Nikki Giovanni
I want to be clear about this. If you wrote...
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I want to be clear about this. If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy. Nikki Giovanni
Writers don't write from experience, although many are hesitant to...
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Writers don't write from experience, although many are hesitant to admit that they don't....If you wrote from experience, you'd get maybe one book, maybe three poems. Writers write from empathy. Nikki Giovanni
If you're a writer, the answer to everything is yes.
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If you're a writer, the answer to everything is yes. Nikki Giovanni
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We used to talk all nightand do things alone togetherand i’ve begun(as a reaction to a feeling)to balancethe pleasure of lonelinessagainst the painof loving you Nikki Giovanni
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I'm told by my young friends that experience is much more important than books. Of course Ben Franklin had something to say about experience and fools, but even Franklin thought that a fool would learn by his experience. That has proven false in the modern world. Some people are simply unwilling to learn under any circumstances, which maybe, even then, wouldn't be so bad if they weren't so damned proud of it. . Nikki Giovanni
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I move on feeling and have learned to distrust those who don't. Nikki Giovanni
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And everybody was happy that uncle lee was able to get that scholarship even though you wondered when you could do quadratic equations in your head why you had a basketball scholarship but you always knew that you had to take what they were giving since that was all you were going to get but you never fooled yourself about either the taking or the giving or the needing or the having you just sort of said to yourself I'll have to see what is being offered . Nikki Giovanni
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The trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. I say, the trip to Mars can only be understood through Black Americans. Nikki Giovanni
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Style has a profound meaning to Black Americans. If we can’t drive, we will invent walks and the world will envy the dexterity of our feet. If we can’t have ham, we will boil chitterlings; if we are given rotten peaches, we will make cobblers; if given scraps, we will make quilts; take away our drums, and we will clap our hands. We prove the human spirit will prevail. We will take what we have to make what we need. We need confidence in our knowledge of who we are. Nikki Giovanni
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I appreciate my my sleep In sleep my conversation is witty My home is dusted My office work is up to date The dog is even well behaved And food is on the table on time But then when I'm asleep I don't have you to clutter and confuse My hungry heart Nikki Giovanni
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His headstone said F R E E AT LAST, FREE AT LASTBut death is a slave's freedom We seek the freedom of free men And the construction of a world Where Martin Luther King could have lived and preached non-violence Nikki Giovanni
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You must be unintimidated by your own thoughts because if you write with someone looking over you shoulder, you'll never write. Nikki Giovanni
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Today I am 65 years old. I still look good. I appreciate and enjoy my age. A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it. You still bring to bear all your prior experience, but you are riding on another level. It's completely liberating. . Nikki Giovanni
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Mistakes are a fact of life: It is the response to the error that counts. Nikki Giovanni
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It is not who you attend school with but who controls the school you attend. Nikki Giovanni
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I move on feeling and have learned to distrust those who don't. Nikki Giovanni
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We love because it is the only true adventure. Nikki Giovanni
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The ability to take pride in your own work is one of the hallmarks of sanity. Nikki Giovanni
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I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try. Nikki Giovanni
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We love because it's the only true adventure. Nikki Giovanni
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I am totally fascinated by people and our history as I understand and continue to explore it. People have so much to give and so far to go and yet we have given and gone a great distance. It's really just interesting to ask: why not? And see where that takes me. Nikki Giovanni
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If now isn't a good time for the truth I don't see when we'll get to it. Nikki Giovanni
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Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberries and cream - they go together. Nikki Giovanni
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A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are. Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do, you can learn about the new world you're in and take advantage of it. Nikki Giovanni
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Everything will change. The only question is growing up or decaying. Nikki Giovanni