Frederick Douglass

It only abolished slavery where it did not exist, and left it intact where it did exist.

I saw, or thought I saw a ray of light, brightening the future of my whole race as well as that of our war-troubled country, in arousing colored men to fight for the nation’s life.

Lincoln was not only a great President, but a GREAT MAN--too great to be small in anything.

From this time (and the fact ought to be remembered) the colored troops were called upon to occupy positions which required the courage, steadiness, and endurance of veterans, and even their enemies were obliged to admit that they proved…

The anti-slavery platform had performed its work, and my voice was no longer needed.

A death blow was then given to the slaveholding rebellion.

But we are not here to applaud manly courage, save as it has been displayed in a noble cause.

The key to the situation was the four million of slaves; yet the slave who loved us, was hated, and the slaveholder who hated us, was loved.

Land is not worth much where there are no people to occupy it, and a mule is not worth much where there is no one to drive him.

When the means of victory were before us,--within our grasp,-- we went in search of the means of defeat.

I looked into this kitchen with peculiar interest, and remembered that it was there I last saw my mother.

It was a measure apparently inspired by the low motive of military necessity, and by so far as it was so, it would become inoperative and useless when military necessity should cease.