The person who schools himself to see the dark side of life is likely to make a mistake, and the person who schools himself to look only upon the bright side of life, forgetting all else, also is apt to make a mistake.
Washington highlights the potential pitfalls of both pessimism and excessive optimism.
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More from Booker T. Washington
In order to defend and protect the women and children who were left on the plantations when the white males went to war, the slaves would have laid down their lives.
This tenderness and sympathy on the part of those held in bondage was a result of their kindly and generous nature.
No one section of our country was wholly responsible for its introduction, and, besides, it was recognized and protected for years by the General Government.
I have long since ceased to cherish any spirit of bitterness against the Southern white people on account of the enslavement of my race.