To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

I do not think much of the good luck theory of self-made men. It is worth but little attention and has no practical value.

Our destiny is largely in our hands.

I have observed this in my experience of slavery, that whenever my condition was improved, instead of increasing my contentment; it only increased my desire to be free, and set me thinking of plans to gain my freedom.

In life you don't get everything you pay for, but you must pay for everything you get.

The soul that is within me no man can degrade.