A life that stood out as a gospel of self-forgetting service. He could have added fortune to fame but caring for neither he found happiness and honor in being helpful to the world. The centre of his world was the south where he was born in slavery some 79 years ago and where he did his work as a creative scientist.

All flowers talk to me and so do hundreds of little living things in the woods. I learn what I know by watching and loving everything.

Do what you can, with what you have and do it now!

I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets . . .

It is simply service that measures success.

My work is that of keeping every operation down (in size) so that the farmer and the man farthest down can get hold of it.

I know of nothing more inspiring than that of making discoveries for ones self.