Sacrifice. Work. Self-discipline. I teach these things, and my boys don't forget them when they leave.

We’re suggesting that [kids are] missing something if they don’t read but, actually, we’re condemning kids to a lesser life. If you had a sick patient, you would not try to entice them to take their medicine. You would tell them, ‘Take this or you’re going to die.’ We need to tell kids flat out: reading is not optional.

Spare the rod and spoil the child - that is true. But, beside the rod, keep an apple to give him when he has done well.

So, I was in a segregated, all black, public elementary school until fourth grade, until my father died. And that's when my mother transferred me to a private, predominantly white school and I saw both sides of the world at a very young age.

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Nobody gets through college on their own.

I never went to college, so I went to the library.