To make a contented slave it is necessary to make a thoughtless one. It is necessary to darken the moral and mental vision and, as far as possible, to annihilate the power of reason.

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

Fortune may crowd a man's life with fortunate circumstances and happy opportunities, but they will, as we all know, avail him nothing unless he makes a wise and vigorous use of them.

It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of slavery. My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold defiance took its place; and I now resolved that, however long I might remain a slave in form, the day had passed forever when I could be a slave in fact.

It was unlawful, as well as unsafe, to teach a slave to read.

You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.

Praying for freedom never did me any good til I started praying with my feet.