Booker T. Washington

From the time that I can remember anything, almost every day of my life had been occupied in some kind of labour; though I think I would now be a more useful man if I had had time for sports.

Until that question was asked it had never occurred to me that there was no period of my life that was devoted to play.

I cannot remember having slept in a bed until after our family was declared free by the Emancipation Proclamation.

She was simply a victim of the system of slavery.

But taking place at the time it did, and for the reason that it did, no one could ever make me believe that my mother was guilty of thieving.

He was simply another unfortunate victim of the institution which the Nation unhappily had engrafted upon it at that time.

Nobody can give us those qualities merely by praising us and talking well about us; and when we possess them, nobody can take them from us by speaking ill of us.

Remember that if we are kind and useful, if we are moral, if we go out and practise these traits, no matter what people say about us, they cannot pull us down.

No one ever loses anything by being a gentleman or a lady.

We want to be larger and broader than the people who would oppress us on account of our colour.

In the sight of God there is no colour line, and we want to cultivate a spirit that will make us forget that there is such a line anywhere.

If you can extend a helping hand to a white person, feel just as happy in doing so as in helping a black person.