Political Quotes

W.E.B. Du Bois: “If he but had some master-work, some life-service, hard,—aye, bitter hard, but without the cringing and sickening…”

On the recordJanuary 1, 1903
If he but had some master-work, some life-service, hard,—aye, bitter hard, but without the cringing and sickening servility, without the cruel hurt that hardened his heart and soul.
Said by
W.E.B. Du Bois

Editor's note · Context

From the fictional narrative "Of the Coming of John," a young Black man yearns for meaningful work free from servility and the dehumanizing effects of racial prejudice.

Share

More from W.E.B. Du Bois

Jan 1, 1903

Our song, our toil, our cheer, and warning have been given to this nation in blood-brotherhood.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1903

Let the ears of a guilty people tingle with truth, and seventy millions sigh for the righteousness which exalteth nations, in this drear day when human brotherhood is mockery and a snare.

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1903

Actively we have woven ourselves with the very warp and woof of this nation,—we fought their battles, shared their sorrow, mingled our blood with theirs, and generation after generation have pleaded with a headstrong, careless people to…

gutenberg.org
Jan 1, 1903

The silently growing assumption of this age is that the probation of races is past, and that the backward races of to-day are of proven inefficiency and not worth the saving.

gutenberg.org