"I have a deep-seated bias against hate and intolerance. I have a bias against racial and religious bigotry. I have a bias against war and a bias for peace. I have a bias which leads me to believe in the essential goodness of my fellow man, which leads me to believe that no problem of human relations is insoluble."

— Statement made by Bunche at a dinner meeting in his honor offered by the American Association for the United Nations on 9 May, 1949.

"I believe in the United Nations. I believe in the rightness and vision of its purposes, as I believe in the rightness and vision of the American Constitutions. Just as there were long years of disputation, travail, and cynical doubt before our federated Republic became firmly established under our Constitution… We will see realized the peaceful and just world which the United Nations strives incessantly to achieve, just as at home we will see realized the fully democratic America which our Constitution envisaged."

— Excerpt from "The Alternatives: Peace or Ruin; Justice or Degeneracy." Bunche's address accepting the 34th Spingarn Medal at NAACP 40th Annual Convention, Los Angeles, 17 July, 1949.

"Always strive to do better"

6/19/46

"Dear Joan:

I am proud of you today – proud that you are my daughter and have done so well in Junior High. You have made an encouraging start – but remember, it is just a start. No record is ever as good that it cannot, by determination and hard work, be improved upon. Always strive to do better. Never be content until you have done the very best you can. Give to every task all you have and always set your sights on the top spot. I look for great things from you in high school and college.

Your ever loving, Daddy”

— Excerpt from Joan Bunche's diary