Frederick Douglass Quotes

A collection of quotes by Frederick Douglass.

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895) was an African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. Born into slavery in Maryland, he escaped to the North in 1838 and became a prominent leader in the abolitionist movement.

Douglass' incredible life story and powerful speeches played a pivotal role in the fight against slavery. He eloquently shared his personal experiences as a slave, highlighting the cruel and inhumane treatment endured by African-Americans. His autobiographical work, "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave," published in 1845, became a bestseller and had a profound impact on public opinion.

Considered one of the greatest orators of his time, Douglass used his powerful voice to advocate for equal rights for all, not just African-Americans. He traveled extensively, delivering passionate speeches and engendering support for the abolitionist cause. He also actively supported women's rights, urging suffragettes to include African-American women in their fight for equality.

During the American Civil War, Douglass advised President Abraham Lincoln on the recruitment of African-American soldiers for the Union Army, and after the war, he campaigned for equal rights during Reconstruction. He also held various government positions, serving as U.S. Marshal and Minister to Haiti.

Frederick Douglass' tireless dedication to the fight against slavery and his commitment to equality and social justice have made him one of the most influential figures in American history. His legacy continues to inspire and remind us of the importance of resistance, activism, and the pursuit of a more inclusive society.

I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do

I didn't know I was a slave until I found out I couldn't do the things I wanted.

Frederick Douglass


The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is ho

The life of the nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous.

Frederick Douglass


Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ig

Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.

Frederick Douglass


The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of tho

The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.

Frederick Douglass

Endurance Tyrants Limits Those Whom

America is false to the past, false to the present, and sole

America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future.

Frederick Douglass

Future

In all the relations of life and death, we are met by the co

In all the relations of life and death, we are met by the color line.

Frederick Douglass

Life Death

[...] endless action and reaction. Those beautifully rounded

[...] endless action and reaction. Those beautifully rounded pebbles which you gather on the sand and which you hold in your hand and marvel at their exceeding smoothness, were chiseled into their varies and graceful forms by the ceaseless action of countless waves. Nature is herself a great worker and never tolerates, without certain rebuke, any contradiction to her wise example. Inaction is followed by stagnation. Stagnation is followed by pestilence and pestilence is followed by death.

Frederick Douglass

Work Inspirational Personal Growth Stagnation Nature Death

People might not get all they work for in this world, but th

People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get.

Frederick Douglass

Work

If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who prof

If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, and it may be both moral and physical, but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.

Frederick Douglass


I recognize the Republican party as the sheet anchor of the

I recognize the Republican party as the sheet anchor of the colored mans political hopes and the ark of his safety.

Frederick Douglass


For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the

For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.

Frederick Douglass


I knew that however bad the Republican party was, the Democr

I knew that however bad the Republican party was, the Democratic party was much worse. The elements of which the Republican party was composed gave better ground for the ultimate hope of the success of the colored mans cause than those of the Democratic party.

Frederick Douglass


Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper

Man's greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done.

Frederick Douglass

Right

We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to

We have to do with the past only as we can make it useful to the present and the future.

Frederick Douglass

Past

A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman c

A gentleman will not insult me, and no man not a gentleman can insult me.

Frederick Douglass

Gentlemen

One and God make a majority.

One and God make a majority.

Frederick Douglass

God

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agita

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground.

Frederick Douglass

Freedom

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

If there is no struggle, there is no progress.

Frederick Douglass

Change

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitat

Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle! Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either rods or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.

Frederick Douglass

Diplomacy

When men sow the wind it is rational to expect that they wil

When men sow the wind it is rational to expect that they will reap the whirlwind.

Frederick Douglass

Men