One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him.

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

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

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.

Let our opportunities overshadow our grievances.

Most leaders spend time trying to get others to think highly of them, when instead they should try to get their people to think more highly of themselves. It's wonderful when the people believe in their leader. It's more wonderful when the leader believes in their people! You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.

My whole life has largely been one of surprises.