“A reading man and woman is a ready man and woman, but a writing man and woman are exact.”

The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.

Whatsoever things common to man, that man has done, man can do.

I like honesty and fair play.

Chance has never yet satisfied the hope of suffering people.

There shall be no solution to this race problem until you, yourselves, strike the blow for liberty.

Never forget that intelligence rules the world and ignorance carry the burden. Therefore, remove yourself as far as possible from ignorance and seek as far as possible to be intelligent.

Black men, you were once great; you shall be great again. Lose not courage or faith, go forward.

The greatest possession of a man is character.

Look to Africa, for there a king will be crowned.

It is only the belief and the confidence we have in a God why man is able to understand his own social institutions, and move and live like a rational human being.

I am not opposed to the white race as charged by my enemies. I have no time to hate anyone. All my time is devoted to the up-building and development of the Negro Race.

History is the landmark by which we are directed into the true course of life.

To see your enemy and know him is a part of the complete education of man.

We must give up the silly idea of folding our hands and waiting on God to do everything for us. If God had intended for that, then he would not have given us a mind. Whatever you want in life, you must make up your mind to do it for yourself.

If the Negro is not careful he will drink in all the poison of modern civilization and die from the effects of it.

Intelligence rules the world, ignorance carries the burden.

I felt a tremendous sadness for men who can’t deal with a woman of their own age.

If a man had nothing that was worth dying for, then he was not fit to live.

A little group of willful men, representing no opinion but their own, have rendered the great government of the United States helpless and contemptible.

No people are true Christians who do not think constantly of how they can lift their brother and sister, how they can assist their friends, how they can enlighten mankind, how they can make virtue the rule of conduct in the circle in which they live.

Democracy is in the blood of Musalmans, who look upon complete equality of manhood [mankind] and believe in fraternity, equality and liberty.

A man without self-restraint is like a barrel without hoops, and tumbles to pieces.

Some men see what is, and ask ‘Why?’ I see what might be, and ask ‘Why Not?’

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly, is to fill the world with fools.