Frederick Douglass Quotes

The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born of earnest struggle.

You are not judged by the height you have risen, but from the depth you have climbed.

Intelligence is a great leveler here as elsewhere.

A man who will enslave his own blood, may not be safely relied on for magnamity.

The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers.

He who would be free must strike the first blow.

It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.

I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong.

Fortune may crowd a man’s life with fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities, but they will, as we all know, avail him nothing unless he makes a wise and vigorous use of them.

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.