Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens. We went into slavery with chains clanking about our wrists; we came out with the American ballot in our hands.

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No greater injury can be done to any youth than to let him feel that because he belongs to this or that race he will be advanced in life regardless of his own merits or efforts.

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Great men cultivate love...only little men cherish a spirit of hatred

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Success is not measured by where you are in life, but the obstacles you've over come

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Character, not circumstances, makes the man.

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Start where you are with what you have, knowing that what you have is plenty enough.

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Never get to the point where you will be ashamed to ask anybody for information. The ignorant man will always be ignorant if he fears that by asking another for information he will display ignorance. Better once display your ignorance of a certain subject than always know nothing of it.

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Most leaders spend time trying to get others to think highly of them, when instead they should try to get their people to think more highly of themselves. It's wonderful when the people believe in their leader. It's more wonderful when the leader believes in their people! You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.

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An inch of progress is worth more than a yard of complaint.

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No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem.

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