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My whole life has largely been one of surprises.

Booker T. Washington

I learned the lesson that great men cultivate love, and that only little men cherish a spirit of hatred. I resolved then that I would permit no man, no matter what his color, to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Color Hate Men
I early learned that it is a hard matter to convert an individual by abusing him, and that this is more often accomplished by giving credit for all the praiseworthy actions performed than by calling attention alone to all the evil done.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Attention Evil Giving
Ignorance is more costly to any State than education.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Cost Education Ignorance Price State
An ounce of application is worth a ton of abstraction.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Abstraction Application Practical
There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Defense Development Highest
The thing to do when one feels sure that he has said or done the right thing and is condemned, is to stand still and keep quiet. If he is right, time will show it.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Done Quiet Said
No one can degrade us except ourselves.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Exception Ourselves Validation Value
If no other consideration had convinced me of the value of the Christian life, the Christ like work which the Church of all denominations in America has done during the last 35 years for the elevation of the black man would have made me a Christian.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Christian Men Years
An ounce of application is worth a ton of abstraction.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Application Clarity Communicate
The longer I live and the more I study the question, the more I am convinced that it is not so much the problem of what you will do with Negro, as what the Negro will do with you and your ‘civilization’.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Civilization Problem Study
Not how much, but how well, should be the motto. One problem thoroughly understood is of more value than a score poorly mastered.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Mastered Problem Score Understand
In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Essential Progress Purity Separate
At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race economic independence.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Economic Education Independence Politics Race Religion
If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Inspirational Life Motivational
Start where you are with what you have, knowing that what you have is plenty enough.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Country Enough Knowing People
I do not believe that one should speak unless, deep down in his heart, he feels convinced that he has a message to deliver.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON

Convinced Heart Message Mutual Progress

My whole life has largely been one of surprises.

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My whole life has largely been one of surprises.

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