Any one who is willing to work ten hours a day at the brick-yard, or in the laundry, through one or two years, in order that he or she may have the privilege of studying academic branches for two hours in the evening, has enough bottom to warrant being further educated.
In his autobiography, Washington articulates his belief that a student's willingness to endure hard labor for the sake of education demonstrates the character necessary for further learning.
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More from Booker T. Washington
I pity from the bottom of my heart any nation or body of people that is so unfortunate as to get entangled in the net of slavery.
I do not know how many have noticed it, but I think that it will be found to be true that there are few instances, either in slavery or freedom, in which a member of my race has been known to betray a specific trust.
From any point of view, I had rather be what I am, a member of the Negro race, than be able to claim membership with the most favoured of any other race.
The picture of several dozen boys and girls in a schoolroom engaged in study made a deep impression upon me, and I had the feeling that to get into a schoolhouse and study in this way would be about the same as getting into paradise.