Eric D. Thomas

“In my estimation, there are four kinds of people that live on this earth: average, good, great, and phenomenal. Phenomenal is like Mother Theresa. She's dead, but we still talk about her on a regular basis. That's phenomenal.”

“Average people get to school late; they're average. They barely do their school work.”

“People talk about how great this country is - and it's a great country - but I feel that many young people don't believe they have access to the American dream.”

“Listen to me carefully: My father wasn't in my life, but it feels good taking care of my kids.”

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want breathe, then you will be successful.”

“You can't take our people from Africa and put us in a diaspora and spread us all over the world. And we survived slavery - and we can't pass a test? ... And you're gonna tell me we can't learn how to write? Have you lost your mind? We are survivors. That's all we do is survive.”

“Most of the people that I deal with have no vision, and they live out the reality that's given to them.”

“Do you know, if I go to a Jewish school, them kids are quiet. If I go to a white school, them kids quiet. If I go to a Latino school, they quiet. The only kids that disrespect me is black kids. That's it - my own are the only ones that disrespect me.”

“Most kids just follow the cycle. My grandfather didn't finish high school. My father didn't, and I didn't. But you can break the cycle. You can have a successful marriage and be a good father.”

“Bottom line, I removed myself from the victim mentality and took control of my life. I'm not just going to take responsibility for the success in my life - I'm going to take responsibility for the failures in my life. When you're willing to accept that you're the problem, you immediately become the solution.”