I not only feel nervous before speaking, but after I have finished I usually feel a sense of regret, because it seems to me as if I had left out of my address the main thing and the best thing that I had meant to say.
Washington describes his common post-speech feeling of regret, believing he always omitted the most important points he intended to convey.
Share
More from Booker T. Washington
The thing in my life which brings me the keenest regret is that my work in connection with public affairs keeps me for so much of the time away from my family, where, of all places in the world, I delight to be.
In the economy of God there is but one standard by which an individual can succeed—there is but one for a race.
When I have an unusually difficult question to decide—one that appeals strongly to the emotions—I find it a safe rule to sleep over it for a night, or to wait until I have had an opportunity to talk it over with my wife and friends.
I have always looked upon fame as something to be used in accomplishing good.