But the grim visage of slavery can assume no smiles which can fascinate the partially enlightened slave, into a forgetfulness of his bondage, nor of the desirableness of liberty.
Douglass argues that even the most benign forms of slavery cannot mask its inherent cruelty or extinguish an enslaved person's longing for liberty.
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The friendless and hungry boy, in his extremest need, found himself in the strong protecting arms of his mother.
It was in the air, and men breathed it and were permeated by it, often when they were quite unconscious of its presence.
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.
It only abolished slavery where it did not exist, and left it intact where it did exist.