“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 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.

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.

Look for me in the whirlwind or the storm.

The whole world is run on bluff. No race, no nation, no man has any divine right to take advantage of others. Why allow the other fellow to bluff you?

Take advantage of every opportunity; where there is none, make it for yourself, and let history record that as we toiled laboriously and courageously, we worked to live gloriously.

I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy.

If my life was a movie, no one would believe it.

When you believe, you’ll accomplish dreams much bigger than you thought.

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.

I believe that the Good Lord gave us a finite number of heartbeats and I’m damned if I’m going to use up mine running up and down a street.

Believe in your dreams, no matter how impossible they seem.

Black women are very capable of leading our organizations. I believe that firmly.

You have to believe in yourself.