Quotes from Kwame Alexander

Sometimes it's the things that aren't said that kill you" -Josh

All that is good and accomplished in this world takes work and a little chaos.

Find your grit and put in the work to elevate your game. Champions train. Chumps complain.

Life is a mountain, Youngblood. Nobody said the climb was gonna be easy. You gotta choose your route. Get your gear. Breathe. Clear your mind. And enjoy the journey

It does not take a math genius to understand that when you subtract a mother from the equation what remains is negative.

is a MYTHical MANchild Of rather dubious distinction Always AGITATING COMBINATING and ELEVATING his game He dribbles fakes then takes the ROCK to the glass, fast, and on BLAST But watch out when he shoots or you'll get SCHOOLed FOOLed UNCOOLed 'Cause when FILTHY gets hot He has a SLAMMERIFIC SHOT It's Dunkalicious CLASSY Supersonic SASSY and D O W N right in your face mcNASTY

Always shoot for the sun and you will shine.

The heart is a small and lonesome place she is a country her eyes hold the river I used to swim her skin, the morning fruit I touched and tasted the heart is a small and lonesome place she is a country I no longer live in.

He's no longer listening to music, but his tears are loud enough to dance to.

In this game of life your family is the court and the ball is your heart. No matter how good you are, no matter how down you get, always leave your heart on the court.

Bullies don't like to fight, son. They like to win. Being afraid is normal. The only fight you really have to win is the one against the fear.

You know, Chuck, You're not always gonna swish. You gonna miss some. Heck, you gonna miss a lot. That's the way the rel world works. But you gotta grab the ball and keep shooting. You understand? I tell you what, though, you'll make a lot more than you miss if you're not always going for the flash and flair.

putyourFACEinaBOOK

It's just hard to love someone who cancels the cable right before the Walking Dead marathon.

Orphans The word seems sad when you say it. An orphan is like a soul bulb waiting to be planted in just the right place. When you're an orphan, you no longer belong, but a child is a child of everyone, they belong to a community, to a greater garden, she says.

We all have what it takes to do exactly what we want to do in life, no matter what anyone else says. If someone tells you, "You can't do this because you are [fill in the blank]," I say embrace the challenge. Wear it like a new pair of Converse or Jordans. Meet it head-on.

There should be a statute of limitations on unrequited love.

A loss is inevitable, like snow in winter. True champions learn to dance through the storm.

If your brother pisses you off, tell him about. If he listens to you, he is your brother for life. Real profound. It is. Matthew said it. Who's Matthew? The Bible Matthew, yo? I doubt the Bible says "pissed off," Walt. I was paraphrasing. Just trying to elucidate the power of communication between brothers.

What you do not suffer for, you can never truly value.

Books matter because kids matter and books make our kids better than we are.

Identical twins are no different from everyone else, except we look and sometimes sound exactly alike.

The sign above my seat reads In Emergency Break Glass. This is an emergency. I feel broken. Why haven't I told her? WHY HAVEN'T I TOLD HER?! Why haven't you told her? the old man asks, in my head. And don't even think about breaking that window. It's Illegal. A federal offense. So is loving someone for this long and not doing something about it.

the flag means a lot of different things to a lot of different folks. But the one thing it should mean for everyone is freedom. Mind, body, and soul. Red, white, and blue. America the beautiful. The greatest love story yet to be. Remember this, love gotta always win, gotta be sincere. Hate that which is evil, and hold fast to everything that is good and righteous, ya hear me?