The reputation that I made as a speaker during this campaign induced a number of persons to make an earnest effort to get me to enter political life, but I refused, still believing that I could find other service which would prove of more permanent value to my race.
From his autobiography, Washington reflects on declining political opportunities to pursue service he deemed more valuable for his race.
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More from Booker T. Washington
The more I come into contact with wealthy people, the more I believe that they are growing in the direction of looking upon their money simply as an instrument which God has placed in their hand for doing good with.
We try to keep constantly in mind the fact that the worth of the school is to be judged by its graduates.
In the economy of God there is but one standard by which an individual can succeed—there is but one for a race.
This country demands that every race shall measure itself by the American standard.