# Quote — Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man

> America is woven of many strands; I would recognize them and let it so remain. It's "winner take nothing" that is the great truth of our country or of any country. Life is to be lived, not controlled; and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat. Our fate is to become one, and yet many— This is not prophecy, but description.

- Author: [Ralph Ellison](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison.md)
- Book: [Invisible Man](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Ralph_Ellison#Invisible_Man_(1952)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man/america-is-woven

## More from this book

> Whence all this passion toward conformity anyway?—diversity is the word.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man/whence-all-this.md)

> I do not know if all cops are poets, but I know that all cops carry guns with triggers.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man/i-do-not.md)

> And yet I am what they think I am.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/ralph-ellison/invisible-man/and-yet-i-am-what.md)