You must understand the troubles of that man farthest down before you can help him.

No greater injury can be done to any youth than to let him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be advanced in life regardless of his own merits or efforts.

Never get to the point where you will be ashamed to ask anybody for information. The ignorant man will always be ignorant if he fears that by asking another for information he will display ignorance. Better once display your ignorance of a certain subject than always know nothing of it.

Great men cultivate love...only little men cherish a spirit of hatred

The time will come when the Negro in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his ability, character, and material possessions entitle him to.

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

It often requires more courage to suffer in silence than to rebel, more courage not to strike back than to retaliate, more courage to be silent than to speak.