He may set in judgment on the age, upon the civilization of the age, and upon the religion of the age; for he has a test, a sure and certain test, by which to try all institutions, and to measure all men.
In his autobiography, Douglass explains how a person of unwavering principle possesses the moral authority to evaluate society's institutions and individuals.
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Our very lack of preparation for the conflict disposed us to look for some other than the way of blood out of the difficulty.
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.
True it is that this faith was many times shaken by passing events, but never destroyed.