“There is no power on earth that can neutralize the influence of a high, simple and useful life.”

We all should rise, above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness.

The negro has within him immense power for self-uplifting, but for years it will be necessary to guide and stimulate him.

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.

Character is power.

Each one should remember there is a chance for him.

I think I have learned that the best way to lift one’s self up is to help someone else.

Progress, progress is the law of nature; under God it shall be our eternal guiding star.

Start where you are with what you have, knowing that what you have is plenty enough.

You must understand the troubles of that man farthest down before you can help him.

Lay hold of something that will help you, and then use it to help somebody else.

It often requires more courage to suffer in silence than to rebel, more courage not to strike back than to retaliate, more courage to be silent than to speak.

If you can’t read, it’s going to be hard to realize dreams.

Success in life is founded upon attention to the small things rather than to the large things; to the every day things nearest to us rather than to the things that are remote and uncommon.

I have begun everything with the idea that I could succeed, and I never had much patience with the multitudes of people who are always ready to explain why one cannot succeed.

Those who have accomplished the greatest results are those who never grow excited or lose self-control, but are always calm, self-possessed, patient and polite.

You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you have to overcome to reach your goals.

Illusions are to the soul what atmosphere is to the earth.

We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers.

What did the earth teach the trees? How to speak to the sky.

No power on this earth can destroy the thirst for human dignity.

Happiness and the absurd are two sons of the same earth. They are inseparable.

Why should some people have such a hard time during their few years on this earth?

Life on earth is like college and we’re all just trying to pass the courses.

There is nothing on earth that could ever make me want to relive certain years of my life when I was young.