Booker T. Washington

There are two ways of exerting one’s strength: one is pushing down, the other is pulling up.

Booker T. Washington

There is no defense or security for any of us except in the highest intelligence and development of all.

Booker T. Washington

There is no power on earth that can neutralize the influence of a high, simple and useful life.

Booker T. Washington

Those who have accomplished the greatest results are those who never grow excited or lose self-control, but are always calm, self-possessed, patient, and polite.

Booker T. Washington

To young, inexperienced minds there seems to be a kind of fatal charm about the vague, the distant, and the mysterious.

Booker T. Washington

We all should rise, above the clouds of ignorance, narrowness, and selfishness.

Booker T. Washington

You must understand the troubles of that man farthest down before you can help him.

Booker T. Washington

Among a large class there seemed to be a dependence upon the Government for every conceivable thing. The members of this class had little ambition to create a position for themselves, but wanted the Federal officials to create one for them.

Booker T. Washington

As a rule, it is only the little, narrow people who live for themselves, who never read good books, who do not travel, who never open up their souls in a way to permit them to come into contact with other souls-with the great outside world.

Booker T. Washington

At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race economic independence.

Booker T. Washington