Booker T. Washington: “You must make up your minds, after coming here, to do well whatever you undertake.”

When they saw that I was not afraid or ashamed to work, they began to assist with more enthusiasm.

I think I never saw a community of people so happy over anything as were the coloured people over the prospect of this new building.

Even the most ignorant members of my race on the remote plantations felt in their hearts, with a certainty that admitted of no doubt, that the freedom of the slaves would be the one great result of the war, if the Northern armies conquered.

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