Political Quotes

Frederick Douglass: Few are willing to incur the odium attaching to the reputation of being a cruel master; and above all things, they would…

On the recordJanuary 1, 1845
Few are willing to incur the odium attaching to the reputation of being a cruel master; and above all things, they would not be known as not giving a slave enough to eat.
Said by
Frederick Douglass

Editor's note · Context

From his autobiography, Douglass explains the social disincentives for urban slaveholders to be perceived as cruel or neglectful of their enslaved people's basic needs.

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