No man can be truly free whose liberty is dependent upon the thought, feeling and action of others, and who has himself no means in his own hands for guarding, protecting, defending and maintaining that liberty

I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it.

A man's character always takes its hue, more or less, from the form and color of things about him.

The soul that is within me no man can degrade.

My hopes were never brighter than now.

If I have advocated the cause of the Negro, it is not because I am a Negro, but because I am a man.

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.