Anthony Ray Hinton

“I don't believe that man was built to be put in a 5-by-7 for 30 years and have his sanity when he comes out if he doesn't find something to escape.”

“I want people to realize that we can teach hate, but we also can teach love.”

“I've often thought books give you - put you in a world that you never thought you could go. And I often would say, I don't need to go to California. Give me a book that talks about California. And I can put it in my head and imagine what it looked like.”

“Black, poor, without a father most of my life, one of 10 children - it was actually pretty amazing I had made it to the age of 29 without a noose around my neck.”

“I was put on death row because of hate.”

“I'm really trying to bring an end to the death penalty because it means so much to me.”

“Justice should be one of the things that's colorblind.”

“I cannot hate, because my Bible teaches me not to hate.”

“You get to know everyone on death row. You become friends with them and their families. I met some great guys. Everyone regrets what they did.”

“The state of Alabama can take my freedom, the state of Alabama can take my future, but the state of Alabama cannot take my joy.”

“On September 22, 2002, my mama, Buhlar Hinton, died. When the guards told me, I gave up. She'd been deteriorating for a long time - I believe she died of a broken heart.”

“Henry Hays was cheated all his life. He was cheated by his father who taught him to hate. His community taught him to hate. My mom told me, no matter what one does in life, he or she deserves some compassion, and I knew Hays deserved compassion more than anybody.”

“I shouldn't have sat on death row 30 years. All they had to do was test the gun. But when you think you are high and mighty and you're above the law, you don't have to answer to nobody, but I've got news for you.”

“Being able to control your mind is a beautiful thing.”

“I spent 30 years on Alabama's death row for a crime I did not commit.”

“It took me a little while to remember how to use a fork. You know, we don't use forks in the penitentiary. You get a spoon.”

“They took my 30s, my 40s, my 50s, but what they couldn't take was my joy. I couldn't do nothing about the years, but I could control my joy... I kept a smile on my face; I kept love in my heart.”

“There was a time I thought I'd never see the sun again.”

“I'm just trying to be a little tiny light in God's world.”

“I never used a gun in my life.”