The idea, however, was too prevalent that, as soon as one secured a little education, in some unexplainable way he would be free from most of the hardships of the world, and, at any rate, could live without manual labour.
Washington critiques a widespread misconception among newly educated Black people that formal schooling would automatically exempt them from manual labor and worldly difficulties.
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By it a race must rise or fall, succeed or fail, and in the last analysis mere sentiment counts for little.
Wherever our graduates go, the changes which soon begin to appear in the buying of land, improving homes, saving money, in education, and in high moral characters are remarkable.
In the economy of God there is but one standard by which an individual can succeed—there is but one for a race.
Despite superficial and temporary signs which might lead one to entertain a contrary opinion, there was never a time when I felt more hopeful for the race than I do at the present.