Frederick Douglass

The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness. Freedom now appeared, to disappear no more forever. It was…

— Frederick Douglass

Shields Green was not one to shrink from hardships or dangers. He was a man of few words, and his speech was…

— Frederick Douglass

A man without force, is without the essential dignity of humanity. Human nature is so constituted, that it cannot honor a helpless…

— Frederick Douglass

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

— Frederick Douglass

Instead of the bright, blue sky of America, I am covered with the soft, grey fog of the Emerald Isle. I breathe,…

— Frederick Douglass

Our community belongs to us and whether it is mean or majestic, whether arrayed in glory or covered in shame, we cannot…

— Frederick Douglass

We succeed, not alone by the laborious exertions of our faculties, be they small or great, but by the regular, thoughtful and…

— Frederick Douglass

Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have the exact measure of the injustice and wrong which…

— Frederick Douglass

“A man must be disposed to judge of emancipation by other tests than whether it has increased the produce of sugar,—and to…

— Frederick Douglass

...there are at the present moment many colored men in the Confederate Army...as real soldiers, having muskets on their shoulders, and bullets…

— Frederick Douglass

It was a glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of slavery. My long-crushed spirit rose, cowardice departed, bold…

— Frederick Douglass

Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and…

— Frederick Douglass

In one point of view, we, the abolitionists and colored people, should meet [the Dred Scott] decision, unlooked for and monstrous as…

— Frederick Douglass

“The fatal poison of irresponsible power was already in her hands, and soon commenced its infernal work. That cheerful eye, under the…

— Frederick Douglass

“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly submit…

— Frederick Douglass

Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society…

— Frederick Douglass

“Our house stood within a few rods of the Chesapeake Bay, whose broad bosom was ever white with sails from every quarter…

— Frederick Douglass

Everybody has asked the question, ... 'What shall we do with the Negro?' I have had but one answer from the beginning.…

— Frederick Douglass

“It was—"Fred., come help me to cant this timber here."—"Fred., come carry this timber yonder."—"Fred., bring that roller here."—"Fred., go get a…

— Frederick Douglass

“We deem it a settled point that the destiny of the colored man is bound up with that of the white people…

— Frederick Douglass

“Let me give you a word of the philosophy of reform. The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that…

— Frederick Douglass

“The man who wields the blood-clotted cowskin during the week fills the pulpit on Sunday, and claims to be a minister of…

— Frederick Douglass

“The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows that all concessions yet made to her august claims have been born…

— Frederick Douglass

“The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers. I could regard them in no other…

— Frederick Douglass

A war undertaken and brazenly carried on for the perpetual enslavement of colored men, calls logically and loudly for colored men to…

— Frederick Douglass

“What upon Earth is the matter with the American people? Do they really covet the world's ridicule as well as their own…

— Frederick Douglass

The Constitution is a GLORIOUS LIBERTY DOCUMENT. Read its preamble, consider it purposes. Is slavery among them? Is it at the gateway?…

— Frederick Douglass

“Added to the natural good qualities of Mr. Covey, he was a professor of religion—a pious soul—a member and a class-leader in…

— Frederick Douglass

“There can be no independence without a large share of self-dependance, and this virtue cannot be bestowed. It must be developed from…

— Frederick Douglass

I expose slavery in this country, because to expose it is to kill it. Slavery is one of those monsters of darkness…

— Frederick Douglass

We are free to say that in respect to political rights, we hold women to be justly entitled to all we claim…

— Frederick Douglass

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false,…

— Frederick Douglass

Educate your sons and daughters, send them to school, and show them that beside the cartridge box, the ballot box, and the…

— Frederick Douglass

...of whom I can say with a grateful heart, 'I was hungry, and he gave me meat; I was thirsty, and he…

— Frederick Douglass

The sunlight that has brought life and healing to you has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is…

— Frederick Douglass

There are at present many Coloured men in the Confederate Army doing duty not only as cooks, servants and labourers, but real…

— Frederick Douglass

Fugitive slaves were rare then, and as a fugitive slave lecturer, I had the advantage of being the first one out.

— Frederick Douglass

No man can put a chain about the ankle of his fellow man without at last finding the other end fastened about…

— Frederick Douglass

To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous…

— Frederick Douglass

[John Brown's] zeal in the cause of freedom was infinitely superior to mine. Mine was as the taper light, his was as…

— Frederick Douglass