You may fill your heads with knowledge or skillfully train your hands, but unless it is based upon high, upright character, upon a true heart, it will amount to nothing. You will be no better than the most ignorant.

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

Had (I) been a member of a more popular race, I should have been inclined to yield to the temptation of depending upon my ancestry and my colour to do that for me which I should do for myself. Years ago I resolved that because I had no ancestry myself I would leave a record of which my children would be proud, and which might encourage them to still higher effort

Men may make laws to hinder and fetter the ballot, but men cannot make laws that will bind or retard the growth of manhood.

There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all.

An inch of progress is worth more than a yard of complaint.

Success always leaves footprints.