No man, who continues to add something to the material, intellectual and moral well-being of the place in which he lives, is left long without proper reward.

Of all forms of slavery there is none that is so harmful and degrading as that form of slavery which tempts one human being to hate another by reason of his race or color. One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him.

At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race economic independence.

I think I have learned that the best way to lift one's self up is to help someone else.

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

The actual sight of a first-class house that a Negro has built is ten times more potent than pages of discussion about a house that he ought to build, or perhaps could build.

You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you have to overcome to reach your goals.