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Ralph Ellison Quotes about Life

All Ralph Ellison Quotes Art Being Yourself Chaos Giving Humanity Identity Individuality Inspirational Life quotes Music Reality Writing
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
Life, Inspiring, Failure
Ralph Ellison (2010). “Invisible Man”, p.590, Vintage

I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me. Like the bodiless heads you see sometimes in circus sideshows, it is as though I have been surrounded by mirrors of hard, distorting glass. When they approach me they see only my surroundings, themselves or figments of their imagination, indeed, everything and anything except me.

Ralph Ellison
Life, Glasses, Mirrors
Ralph Ellison (2010). “Invisible Man”, p.28, Vintage

When I discover who I am, I'll be free.

Ralph Ellison
Inspirational, Life, Inspiring
Ralph Ellison (2010). “Invisible Man”, p.254, Vintage

That ... is how the world moves: Not like an arrow, but a boomerang.

Ralph Ellison
Life, Moving, Arrows
Ralph Ellison (2010). “Invisible Man”, p.31, Vintage

America is woven of many strands; I would recognize them and let it so remain. It's 'winner take nothing' that is the great truth of our country or of any country. Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat. Our fate is to become one, and yet many - This in not prophecy, but description.

Ralph Ellison
Life, Country, Fate
Ralph Ellison (2010). “Invisible Man”, p.590, Vintage

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