Cornel West Quotes

When you place a high value on truth, you have to think for yourself.

Empathy is not simply a matter of trying to imagine what others are going through, but having the will to muster enough courage to do something about it. In a way, empathy is predicated upon hope.

For most of the history of the American empire, government has been a tool for preserving and furthering the power and might of white male corporate elites.

I think we must never, ever demonize one another. That’s true not just black people to black people; that’s human being to human being.

You must let suffering speak, if you want to hear the truth.

There has been a crisis of leadership in both parties. The leadership class is losing its legitimacy. We want order with truth and justice at the center of it.

Love and trust and justice, concern for the poor, that’s being pushed to the margins, and you can see it.

We must never so thoroughly disrespect someone that they are beyond the pale and, therefore, have no possibility of being changed.

The courage to be is the most difficult thing for any human being.

We protested when the Israeli Defense Forces killed more than 2,000 Palestinians in 50 days. Yet Obama replied with words about the difficult plight of police officers … and the additional $225m in financial support of the Israeli army. Obama said not a mumbling word about the dead Palestinian children but he did call Baltimore black youth ‘criminals and thugs’.

A rich life consists fundamentally of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it.

There is something about boldness and fearlessness and being free enough to speak what is on one’s mind that warrants freedom.