The Soul of America 2020 & Beyond

“If the cost of silence is the soul of the country, if the cost of tacit support is that we lose the very things that make this nation the greatest in human history, then the price is too high.”

~ Spider-Man
Superhero
a.k.a. Peter Parker
Created by Stan Lee & Steve Ditko

~

Warring Against Breast Cancer

“In the war against breast cancer, we have the ability to arm ourselves with knowledge, and education is a powerful tool. By taking action and doing something positive, fear is replaced with hope.”

~ Diahann Carroll,
Actor, Advocate, Dancer, Model, Singer, Author, Philanthropist,
Tony Award (1962), Golden Globe Award (1969) & Television Academy Hall of Fame (2011)

A Little Wisdom, Happiness, Warmth & Love

“Grandpas bring a little wisdom, happiness, warmth, and love to every life they touch.”

~ Author Unknown

~

Grandpa’s Ears, Arms, Heart & Love

“Grandpa has ears that truly listen, arms that always hold, love that’s never-ending, and a heart that’s made of gold.”

~ Author Unknown

~

An Amazing & Great Family Man

“I want to be remembered as, I hope, an amazing husband and a great father.”

~ Jason Momoa
Film Actor, Voice Actor, Model &
CinemaCon Awards (2011)

~

Remember Your Goals

“Remember your dreams and fight for them. You must know what you want from life.
There is just one thing that makes your dream become impossible: the fear of failure.”

~ Paulo Coelho de Souza
Lyricist, Novelist & Creator – Paulo Coelho Foundation

~

Ignorance is an Enemy

“Ignorance is the enemy not just of our democratic system, but also of
our moral integrity as a nation, as the land of the free and home of the brave.”

~ Jay Sekulow, Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can’t Ignore
Chief Counsel – American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ), Radio & Television Talk Show Host,
Commentator, Founder – Christian Advocates Serving Evangelism (CASE), Author,
National Law Journal’s Power List (1994) & The American Lawyer’s Public Sector 45 Award (1997)

~

Knowing Isn’t Enough

“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing.
Knowing is not enough; we must apply.
Being willing is not enough, we must do.”

~Leonardo da Vinci,
Polymath: Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Musician,
Mathematician, Engineer, Inventor, Anatomist,
Geologist, Cartographer, Botanist, & Writer

Our Wisdom, Knowledge & Experience

“I think that we have a great opportunity to impart our wisdom and our knowledge and our experience to this younger generation. It may be different times, but experience transcends time and wisdom transcends time.”

 

Knowing & Loving Yourself

“People who deeply know and love themselves are not hateful towards others.” 

~ Yung Pueblo,
a.k.a. Diego Perez
Mediator, Writer, & Speaker

Playing Dumb

“Intelligence is sexy. Don’t play dumb, especially young girls.
Don’t play dumb, and let people see that you are intelligent.”

~ Iman
a.k.a Iimaan Maxamed Cabdulmajii,
Fashion Super-Model, Actress,
Ethnic Cosmetics Pioneer & Entrepreneur

Ability Without Opportunity

“Ability is of little account without opportunity.”

~ Lucille Désirée Ball,
Comedienne, Model,
Film and Television Actress
and Studio Executive

Truly Educated

“Intelligence plus character, that is the goal of true education.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Pastor, Activist & Humanitarian

When You’re Not Blinded by Lust

“Waiting gives you better knowledge of your partner. When you’re not blinded by lust
or the counterfeit intimacy that can come with premarital sex,
you can see the person you’re dating for who they are.”

~ DeVon Franklin,
TV Producer, Author, Speaker & Spiritual Success Coach

Work That You Love, Work That Fulfills You

“What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come.”

~ Oprah Winfrey,
Chairwoman & CEO of Harpo Productions,
Chairwoman, CEO & CCO of Oprah Winfrey Network,
Television Host, Producer, Author, Actress & Philanthropist

The Necessary Financial Education

“If you want to thrive in today’s economy,
you must challenge the status quo and get the financial education necessary to succeed.”

~ Robert Toru Kiyosaki,
Investor, Businessman, Author, Speaker,
Financial Literacy Activist, and Commentator

The Vaccine for Violence

“Education is the vaccine for violence.”

~ Edward James Olmos,
Actor, Director, Producer, Activist, Golden Globe Award (1985),
Primetime Emmy Award (1988), ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor (4X), Saturn Award (2008) & Mary Pickford Award (2016)

Reminding the Kids

“You have to remind kids to stay connected to the meaning of Christmas.
Sometimes it takes a little bit of effort, but it’s so worth it.”

~ Caroline Kennedy,
Author, Attorney, Diplomat &
United States Ambassador to Japan

Imagination & Knowledge

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.” 

~ N. Cindy Trimm,
Executive Life Coach

Know What You’re Voting For

“Young people need to vote. They need to get out there.
Every vote counts. Educate yourself too.
Don’t just vote. Know what you’re voting for, and stand by that.”

~ Nikki Reed,
Actress, Screenwriter, Singer-Songwriter & Model,
Nantucket Film Festival – Screenplay Award (2003),
Young Hollywood Awards (2X), Independent Spirit Award (2004),
Solstice Film Festival Award (2006), Delray Beach Film Festival Award (2008),
Method Fest Independent Film Festival Award (2008) & Teen Choice Award (2010)

A Man of Knowledge

“A man of knowledge lives by acting, not by thinking about acting.”

~ Carlos Castaneda,
Anthropologist

It Pays to Know the Enemy

“It pays to know the enemy – not least because at some time
you may have the opportunity to turn him into a friend.”

~ Margaret Hilda Thatcher,
(Baroness Thatcher), Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (May 1979–November 1990)
Leader of the Opposition (February 1975–May 1979)
Leader of the Conservative Party (February 1975–November 1990)
Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment (March 1974–February 1975)
Secretary of State for Education and Science (June 1970–March 1974)
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Science (January 1967-June 1970),
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Pensions (October 1961–October 1964)
Member of Parliament for Finchley (October 1959–April 1992)

~ Image via Wikipedia

Walking Your Path

“There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.”

~ Tony Hsieh,
Internet Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Co-Founder of Venture Frogs & Author

A Lot of Men Like Brainy Women

“There are a lot of men who like women with a brain.”

~ India Arie,
Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Musician, Record Producer, Co-Founder – Groovement EarthShare,
Grammy Award (4x), BET Award (2x) & NAACP Image Award (4x)

Involved to Learn

“Tell me and I forget.
Teach me and I remember.
Involve me and I learn.”

~ Ben Franklin,
a Founding Father of the United States,
Polymath, Author, Printer, Political Theorist,
Politician, Postmaster, Scientist, Inventor,
Humorist, Civic Activist, Statesman & Diplomat

The Ignorance of Cruelty

“Cruelty is all out of ignorance.
If you knew what was in store for you, you wouldn’t hurt anybody,
because whatever you do comes back much more forceful than you send it out.”

~ Willie Hugh Nelson,
Singer-Songwriter, Author, Poet, Actor & Activist

Define Your Goals

“The first step is clearly defining what it is you’re after,
because without knowing that, you’ll never get it.”

~ Halle Berry,
Actress, Model & Film Producer

Be Unapologetic That We Excel

“I think we should be unapologetic that we excel –
and look beautiful while doing it.”

~ Tyra Lynne Banks,
Television Personality, Talk Show Host, Producer,
Author, Actress & Model

The Vision You See

“Vision is not what you know; vision is what you see.
And then, it’s what you do about what you see.”

~ Dale C. Bronner,
Founder & Pastor, Word of Faith Worship Center

Elevating Our World

“I think that once a substantive issue becomes public knowledge,
it is up to each and every one of us to do our part to help implement positive change(s).
That is why I ask ALL viewers of my site, to commit to the act of volunteering.
Consider feeding the homeless or donate to your local food bank;
give of your time at church; or, go a step further by setting up your own non-profit organization
that seeks to make a targeted difference. Even if you decide to help just one person,
such as an elderly neighbor…think of how fulfilling that would be.
If we all learned to share in that sentiment, I honestly believe our world
would be elevated with far more love and unity.”

~ Jackee Harry,
Actress, Singer, Director,
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1987),
NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (1999 & 2000)

Doing Away with Fear

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear;
knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

~ Rosa Parks,
Activist

For Your Blessings, …

“Be true to yourself,
help others,
make each day your masterpiece,
make friendship a fine art,
drink deeply from good books – especially the Bible,
build a shelter against a rainy day,
give thanks for your blessings and
pray for guidance every day.”

~ John Wooden,
Basketball Player, UCLA Head Coach (1948–1975), Author,
Lecturer, The Sporting News “Greatest Coach of All Time” (2009)

What Comes Out is Going to Impress

“I can give you the King’s English and then I can take it to the street,
but do both or do one and don’t do one knowing only the street.
That’s going to hold you back because what comes out is going to impress people,
and it will impress them negatively.”

~ Angela Bassett,
Actress, Author, Saturn Award, Image Awards (5x),
Golden Globe  & Black Reel Award

Lucrative Knowledge

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

~ Ben Franklin,
a Founding Father of the United States,
Polymath, Author, Printer, Political Theorist,
Politician, Postmaster, Scientist, Inventor,
Humorist, Civic Activist, Statesman & Diplomat

Afraid of Silence?

“It’s very important in life to know when to shut up.
You should not be afraid of silence.”

~ Alex Trebek,
Television Personality, Game Show Host & Actor

Our Best Days are Ahead

“I seriously feel like the best days are ahead,
and I like the idea of getting to do everything I did before but with
more knowledge, experience, and street smarts. There’s a certain love,
appreciation, and gratitude that you have at 40 that you don’t
have when you’re younger, and it makes every accomplishment feel so much better.”

~ Jennifer Lynn Lopez,
Actress, Author, Fashion Designer, Dancer, Producer & Singer

The Sponge-like Constant Learners

“Children, in a way, are constant learners.
Certainly sponge-like; absorbing everything without careful analysis,
even though, at the same time, they are certainly capable of incredible insights.”

~ Yo-Yo Ma,
Cellist, Educator, Composer, Humanitarian & Grammy Award Winner(15x)

Define YOUR Kryptonite

“Until you define your Kryptonite, you will always be vulnerable to destruction.”

~ T. D. Jakes, Sr.,
Bishop/Chief Pastor of The Potter’s House,
Author & Filmmaker

Laughing at Obstacles

“Don’t take yourself too seriously. Know when to laugh at yourself,
and find a way to laugh at obstacles that inevitably present themselves.

~ Halle Berry,
Actress, Model & Film Producer

Cans & Cannots

Lucille Ball and John Wayne

“I think knowing what you cannot do
is more important than knowing what you can.”

~ Lucille Désirée Ball,
Comedienne, Model,
Film and Television Actress
and Studio Executive

Taking the Time to Raise Them

“I know I did the right thing
by taking time off to raise my son.”

~ Arsenio Hall,
Comedian, Actor, Talk Show Host,
NAACP Image Award (1988) & American Comedy Award (1989)

Even Better the Next Day

.

“I always wanted to be someone better
the next day than I was the day before.”

~ Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE
Actor, Director, Writer & Diplomat
British Academy Film Award Winner, Academy Award (Oscar) Winner,
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE),
Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award Winner & Grammy Award Winner

Cognizant of Self & The Enemy

“If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself,
you are certain to be in peril.”

~ Sun Tzu,
a.k.a. Sun Wu
General, Military Strategist & Philosopher

Learn Something Every Day

“Even now, at 82 years old, if I don’t learn something every day,
you know what I think? It’s a day lost.”

~ B. B. King,
a.k.a. Riley Benjamin King
Blues Singer, Electric Guitarist,
Songwriter, Record Producer, Philanthropist,
Co-Founder – Foundation for the Advancement of Inmate Rehabilitation and Recreation

An Emotional & Intellectual Art Experience

“What I look for when I see a piece of art for the first time
is some kind of emotional, intellectual experience,
that’s a combination of both of those things
and is informed by my knowledge
and something new that I see the artist doing.”

~ Cheech Marin,
Stand-up Comedian, Actor, Writer,
Voice Actor & Activist

The Journey That Teaches

“Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.”

~ Drake,
a.k.a. Aubrey Drake Graham
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer & Actor

Fear Not, Understand More

“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood.
Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

~ Marie Curie,
Physicist, Chemist,
Nobel Prize – Physics (1903) &
Nobel Prize – Chemistry (1911)

Love & Knowledge

“The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.”

~ Bertrand Russell,
Philosopher, Logician, Mathematician, Historian, Writer,
Social Critic, Political Activist & Nobel Laureate

Her Body, Talent & Brain

“I don’t want my body to be a distraction
from my talent or my brain.”

~ Shania Twain,
Singer & Songwriter

Be Beautiful & Brainy

“I was a little fat pudgy kid with big thick glasses,
and I was quiet and never said a word, you know –
teachers loved me, straight-A student.
Growing up in Texas, you were either pretty or smart.
Smart didn’t get you very far, because there weren’t
too many job opportunities for women.
I wondered why you couldn’t be both.

~ Morgan Fairchild
a.k.a Patsy Ann McClenny,
Actress & SAG-AFTRA Board

One Generation, A Single Lifetime

“There are more than eight-million millionaires in the United States today. Most of them are self-made.
They started with nothing an earned all their money within one generation.
The 10 wealthiest multi-billionaires in the US all started with nothing
and earned their money in a single lifetime”

~ Brian Tracy,
Author, Keynote Speaker,
Entrepreneur & Business Coach

Fear Aware

“Being aware of your fear is smart.
Overcoming it is the mark of a successful person.”

~ Seth Godin ,
Author, Entrepreneur, Marketer, and Public Speaker

Know, Love & Believe It

“If you want to be successful,
it’s just this simple:
Know what you are doing.
Love what you are doing,
and believe in what you are doing.”

~ William Penn Adair “Will” Rogers ,
Cowboy, Vaudeville Performer, Humorist, Newspaper Columnist,
Social Commentator, Stage Actor & Motion Picture Actor

Considered as An Expert

“A winner knows how much he still has to learn,
even when
he is considered an expert by others;
a loser wants to be considered an
expert by others
before he has learned enough to know
how little he knows.”

~ Sydney J. Harris,
Journalist, Author, Drama Critic, Teacher & Lecturer

Colors of the Skin

“You think I’m an ignorant savage
And you’ve been so many places
I guess it must be so
But still I cannot see
If the savage one is me
How can there be so much that you don’t know?
You don’t know.

… … …

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But, if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You’ll learn things you never knew, you never knew.”

~ Stephen Schwartz, Lyricist & Alan Menken, Composer,
Colors of the Wind song from Walt Disney Pictures’ Pocahontas (1995)

Where Ignorance Was Better

“I know of no time in human history
where ignorance was better than knowledge.”

~ Neil deGrasse Tyson,
Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, Author & Science Communicator

Be a Great Spirit, Instead

“Great spirits
have always faced
violent opposition
from mediocre minds.”

~ Albert Einstein,
Theoretical Physicist & Nobel Prize – Physics (1921),
Barnard Medal (1920), Matteucci Medal (1921), ForMemRS (1921),
Copley Medal (1925), Gold Medal – Royal Astronomical Society (1926),
Max Planck Medal (1929) & Time Person of the Century (1999)

Involving, Fun & Creative

“A business has to be involving, it has to be fun,
and it has to exercise your creative instincts.”

~ Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson,
Business Magnate & Investor

I Know I Can!

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it,
I know I can achieve it.”

~ Jesse Jackson,
Civil Rights Activist, Baptist Minister
& Shadow U.S. Senator (District of Columbia, 1991-1997)

You, Him & Everyone Else

“80% of people’s problems are about how they feel about themselves.”

“Stop being tormented by everyone else’s reaction to you.”

“Today, Lord, I am going to do my best with Your help and for Your glory.
I realize that there are many different people in the world with a variety of opinions and expectations.
I will concentrate on being a God-pleaser and not a self-pleaser or man-pleaser.
The rest I leave in Your hands, Lord. Grant me favor with You and with men
and continue transforming me into the image of Your dear Son. Thank You Lord.”

~ Joyce Meyer,
Author, Speaker

Like They Are the Hottest Thing

“… Read packaged food labels like they’re the hottest thing from Oprah’s book club.”

~ Joseph M. Mercola ,
Osteopathic Physician,
Entrepreneur & Natural Health Expert

Time, Spirit & Knowledge

“For some people the definition of success is attaining a lot of material things. For others it’s fame or fortune.
For me, success means being fulfilled and leading a balanced life. I feel that I have truly been blessed in all areas of my life
and the only true thing to do is to give back. I compare it to tithing, … I’m tithing of my time, spirit and knowledge.”

~ Egypt Sherrod,
Multi-media Personality, Author, Real Estate Expert and Philanthropist.

More in Failure

“You learn more in failure
than you ever do in success.”

~ Jay Z
a.k.a Shawn Corey Carter,
Investor, Record Producer, and Entrepreneur

~ Image via NAME HERE

Strong, Soft, Smart & Beautiful

“Women somehow get portrayed as one type.

You’re either a feminist or you’re not.

You’re a working woman or you’re not.

I’m raising two girls, and I say to them,

‘I need you to be strong and soft.

You can be smart and beautiful…

You can be all of these things.
”

~ Maria Shriver,
Journalist, Activist, Author,
First Lady of California (11.17.2003–1.3.2011),
Peabody Award recipient & Emmy Award recipient (2x)

~ Image via NAME HERE

A Good Neighborhood

“If you live in a ghetto
and really want not to just change your life and your family’s life
yet change your ghetto’s life,
make your ghetto a good neighbor-hood, learn science;
try to be like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’d like to see Apple and Dell factories
be brought to the inner cities; in every project in America,
there’s some factory there, and it’s abandoned,
and I’d like to see those factories open
and bring jobs to America.

~ will.i.am
a.k.a William James Adams,
Founder of i.am Angel,
Director of Creative Innovation for Intel (2011)
Founder of The Back-Eyed Peas
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur,
Actor, DJ, Record Producer, Philanthropist
Grammy Awards (7), American Music Awards(8), Billboard Music Award,
Teen Choice Award, MTV Video Music Awards (2) and World Music Awards (3).

To Be Geniuses

“We need creative people
working with broadcasters,
making smart content
to inspire people to be geniuses.”

~ will.i.am
a.k.a William James Adams,
Founder of i.am Angel,
Director of Creative Innovation for Intel (2011),
Founder of The Back-Eyed Peas,
Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur,
Actor, DJ, Record Producer, Philanthropist,
Grammy Awards (7), American Music Awards(8), Billboard Music Award,
Daytime Emmy Awards (2), Latin Grammy Award, Television Rack Awards (10x),
Teen Choice Award, MTV Video Music Awards (2) and World Music Awards (3)

The Art of Mothering

“The art of mothering is to teach the art of living to children.”

~ Elaine Heffner,
Psychotherapist, Parent Educator, Author
Senior Lecturer of Education in Psychiatry,
Co-founder, Director and Program Supervisor
of the Nursery School Treatment Center
(Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital) &
Diller-Quaile School of Music Consultant

It Never Exhausts

.

“Learning never exhausts the mind.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci,
Polymath: Painter, Sculptor, Architect, Musician,
Mathematician, Engineer, Inventor, Anatomist,
Geologist, Cartographer, Botanist, & Writer

Random Kindness

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward,
safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

~ Diana Frances Windsor,
Princess of Wales

Becoming Associations

“Who you associate with is who you become.
The term “role model” is not used enough in our society.
It’s extremely important to have role models.
A role model will raise your standards.
A role model will not let you get complacent.
Finding a role model or mentor will spark your mind
because they are playing the game at a higher level than you are.

If you hang around five confident people, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five intelligent people, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five millionaires, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five idiots, you will be the sixth.

If you hang around five broke people, you will be the sixth.

It’s inevitable.”

~ Peter Voogd,
Entrepreneur.com Contributing Authority for Young Entrepreneurs

Our Heads & Hearts

“A good head
and a good heart
are always
a formidable combination.”

~ Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,
Activist, Politician, Philanthropist, Lawyer,
1st President of South Africa, Philanthropist
Nobel Peace Prize Awardee(1993) & Presidential Medal of Freedom Awardee

The Smarter the Journalists …

“The smarter the journalists are,
the better off society is. For to a degree,
people read the press to inform themselves —
and the better the teacher,
the better the student body.”

~ Warren Edward Buffett,
Business Magnate, Investor, Philanthropist &
Founder of the Buffett Foundation

I Entrepreneur

“I BELIEVE anything is possible.
I SEE opportunity when others see impossibility.
I TAKE risks.
I’m FOCUSED.
I HUSTLE.
I KNOW that nothing is unrealistic.
I FEEL overwhelming love.

I EMBRACE my childlike wonder & curiosity.
I TAKE flying leaps into the unknown.
I CONTRIBUTE to something bigger than myself.
I CREATE.
I LEARN.
I GROW.
I DO.

I BELIEVE it’s NEVER TOO LATE to START LIVING a DREAM.
I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR.“

~ AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Is Your Personality Fragrant?

“A person, however learned and qualified in his life’s work, in whom gratitude is absent,
is devoid of that beauty of character which makes personality fragrant.”

~ Hazrat Inayat Khan,
Classical Musician

The Most Valuable Result of All Education

Thomas Henry Huxley, English Biologist

~ Thomas H. Huxley, 1825-1895
Biologist

“Perhaps the most valuable result of all education
is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do,
when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not;
it is the first lesson that ought to be learned;
and however early a man’s training begins,
it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.”