My hopes were never brighter than now.

I recognize the Republican Party as the sheet anchor of the colored man's political hopes and the ark of his safety.

I was broken in body, soul, and spirit. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!

Let us render the tyrant no aid.

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

Once you read, you will be free forever.

It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.