Cornel West

Sociology American 1953 99 quotes

A public intellectual and academic known for his work on race, religion, and social justice, often engaging in critical social commentary.

Quotes by Cornel West

To be a blues person is to be a person who has been knocked down but not knocked out.

Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud 2009

The quest for democracy is a quest for human dignity.

Democracy Matters 2004

To be a radical is to grasp things by the root.

Race Matters 1993

The function of a university is to produce not just specialists, but citizens.

Speech 2014

To be a revolutionary Christian is to be a revolutionary human being.

Democracy Matters 2004

The love of humanity is the love of justice.

Twitter 2012

To be a serious thinker is to be a serious questioner.

Race Matters 1993

The blues is the sound of a soul crying out for freedom.

Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud 2009

To be a public intellectual is to be a public servant.

Democracy Matters 2004

The quest for truth is a quest for freedom.

Race Matters 1993

To be a jazz musician is to be a person who improvises, who takes risks, who is willing to fail.

Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud 2009

The love of justice is the love of God.

Democracy Matters 2004

To be a freedom fighter is to be a lover of humanity.

Twitter 2012

The highest form of praise is to be a truth-teller.

Race Matters 1993

To be a critical intellectual is to be a person who is willing to challenge the status quo.

Democracy Matters 2004

The blues is a testimony to the resilience of the human spirit.

Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud 2009

To be a prophet is to be a person who sees the world as it is, and as it ought to be.

Race Matters 1993

The love of truth is the love of wisdom.

Democracy Matters 2004

To be a revolutionary is to be a person who is willing to die for what they believe in.

Twitter 2012

The quest for human dignity is a quest for justice.

Race Matters 1993