A battle lost or won is easily described, understood, and appreciated, but the moral growth of a great nation requires reflection, as well as observation, to appreciate it. ~Frederick Douglass
Reflection Growth Great
A man's character always takes its hue, more or less, from the form and color of things about him. ~Frederick Douglass
Character Man Color
At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. ~Frederick Douglass
Time Irony Argument
Everybody has asked the question, and they learned to ask it early of the abolitionists, 'What shall we do with the Negro?' I have had but one answer from the beginning. Do nothing with us! Your doing with us has already played the mischief with us. ~Frederick Douglass
Beginning Doing Nothing
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which will be imposed on them. ~Frederick Douglass
People Injustice You
I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do the things I wanted. ~Frederick Douglass
Know Slave Until
I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs. ~Frederick Douglass
Religion Legs Answer
I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. ~Frederick Douglass
Myself Be True True
I recognize the Republican party as the sheet anchor of the colored man's political hopes and the ark of his safety. ~Frederick Douglass
Man Political Safety
If there is no struggle, there is no progress. ~Frederick Douglass
Change Progress Struggle
motivation inspiration
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. ~Frederick Douglass
Children Parenting Strong
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. ~Frederick Douglass
Nature Light Storm
Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done. ~Frederick Douglass
Man Greatness Done
No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about his own neck. ~Frederick Douglass
End Man Finding
One and God make a majority. ~Frederick Douglass
God Majority Make
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. ~Frederick Douglass
Power Nothing Without
The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous. ~Frederick Douglass
Life Nation Honest