Quotes from Gordon Parks

Enthusiasm is the electricity of life. How do you get it? You act enthusiastic until you make it a habit.

The guy who takes a chance, who walks the line between the known and unknown, who is unafraid of failure, will succeed.

America is me. It gave me the only life I know—so I must share in its survival. Look at me. Listen to me.

Nothing came easy. I was just born with a need to explore every part of my mind. And with long searching and hard work, I became devoted to my restlessness.

I have never known anyone important enough to consume me in anger beyond a few hours. Better to depart their existence before they poison your own.

I think maybe the rural influence in my life helped me in a sense, of knowing how to get close to people and talk to them and get my work done.

But I was very disappointed that I didn't get a chance to go overseas with that group, might not have gotten back but I wanted very much to go because there's not much of a record of the exploits of the first Negro fighter group.

The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer.

At first I wasn't sure that I had the talent, but I did know I had a fear of failure, and that fear compelled me to fight off anything that might abet it.