--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Leaders have devoted themselves to…" description: "\"Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little knowing, it seems that political independence disappears without economic independence that economi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/booker-t-washington-2277_devoted_leaders-have-devoted-themselves-to-polit_1238855.png" --- # Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little… ![“Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little knowing, it seems that political independence disappears without economic independence that economic independence is the foundation of political independence.” quote by Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/booker-t-washington-2277_devoted_leaders-have-devoted-themselves-to-polit_1238855.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/booker-t-washington-2277_devoted_leaders-have-devoted-themselves-to-polit_1238855.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/675/booker-t-washington-2277_devoted_leaders-have-devoted-themselves-to-polit_1238855.png) > “Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little knowing, it seems that political independence disappears without economic independence that economic independence is the foundation of political independence.” [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political freedom cannot truly exist without economic self‑reliance; wealth underpins civic autonomy. **In simple terms:** Economic independence is key to political independence. Key Takeaway Build economic strength for true freedom. Themes economics politics independence self‑reliance Mood inspirational determined Type historical prescriptive When to use this quote - community development - entrepreneurship programs - education initiatives Key Concepts structural inequality empowerment policy Questions to Reflect On - How can communities foster economic independence? - What policies best support this goal? A Different Perspective Economic change is slow and may face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economic independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-independence/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/independence/) [Leader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leader/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political independence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-independence/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [“Suppose a country starts its independence with the three economic characteristics that globally make a country prone to civil war: low income, slow growth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-collier/suppose-a-country-starts-its-independence-with-the-three-economic/) [Paul Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-collier/) > [The independence of the economic sphere was a tenet of faith with Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-parker-yockey/the-independence-of-the-economic-sphere-was-a-tenet-of-faith-with/) [Francis Parker Yockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-parker-yockey/) > [At the bottom of education, at the bottom of politics, even at the bottom of religion, there must be for our race economic independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/at-the-bottom-of-education-at-the-bottom-of-politics-even-at-the/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [World War III will be triggered off not by suppressed nationalists seeking political independence, as happened the first time around when the Serbs at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/world-war-iii-will-be-triggered-off-not-by-suppressed-nationalists/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Nationality is the miracle of political independence; race is the principle of physical analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/nationality-is-the-miracle-of-political-independence-race-is-the/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [At present, the United States, with over 700 foreign military bases, navies in every ocean, a programme to militarise space, and drone bases planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/at-present-the-united-states-with-over-700-foreign-military-bases/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [Because my main concern is the Tibetan Buddhist culture, not just political independence, I cannot seek self-rule for central Tibet and exclude the 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/because-my-main-concern-is-the-tibetan-buddhist-culture-not-just/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The nations of Asia and Africa are moving with jetlike speed toward the goal of political independence, and we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/the-nations-of-asia-and-africa-are-moving-with-jetlike-speed-toward/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [We need steel spines, not weak knees when it comes to political independence in the Department of Justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianne-feinstein/we-need-steel-spines-not-weak-knees-when-it-comes-to-political/) [Dianne Feinstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianne-feinstein/) > [Perhaps a hundred people assembled one evening, May 15, 1876, at the time when the country was celebrating the hundredth anniversary of its political independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-adler/perhaps-a-hundred-people-assembled-one-evening-may-15-1876-at-the/) [Felix Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-adler/) > [“The American tradition of separation of church and state grew directly from the freethinking of the Founders. After political independence, they considered independence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wolf-shenk/the-american-tradition-of-separation-of-church-and-state-grew/) [Joshua Wolf Shenk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wolf-shenk/) > [“Every student of political science, every student of political economy, every student of economics knows that the race can only be saved through a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/every-student-of-political-science-every-student-of-political-economy/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [That these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-henry-lee/that-these-united-colonies-are-and-of-right-ought-to-be-free-and/) [Richard Henry Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-henry-lee/) > [What is the use of freedom of the press if the government is in possession of all the printing presses, what does freedom of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-richter/what-is-the-use-of-freedom-of-the-press-if-the-government-is-in/) Eugen Richter > [Africans require, want, the franchise on the basis of one man one vote. They want political independence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/africans-require-want-the-franchise-on-the-basis-of-one-man-one-vote/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) ## More by Booker T. Washington > [“There are some things that one individual can do for another, and there are some things that one race can do for another. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/there-are-some-things-that-one-individual-can-do-for-another-and/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I let no man drag me down so low as to make me hate him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-let-no-man-drag-me-down-so-low-as-to-make-me-hate-him/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The wisest among my race understand that agitations of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all privileges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-wisest-among-my-race-understand-that-agitations-of-social/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“I began learning long ago that those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/i-began-learning-long-ago-that-those-who-are-happiest-are-those-who/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [If you truly want to measure the success of a man, you do not measure it by a position he has achieved, but by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/if-you-truly-want-to-measure-the-success-of-a-man-you-do-not-measure/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The time will come when the Negro in the South will be accorded all the political rights which his ability, character, and material possessions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-time-will-come-when-the-negro-in-the-south-will-be-accorded-all/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“Kada smo u kontaktu sa drugim čovekom, mi mu ili pomažemo ili smetamo. Nema trećeg: ili ga vučemo na dole, ili ga izvlačimo na…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/kada-smo-u-kontaktu-sa-drugim-ovekom-mi-mu-ili-poma-emo-ili-smetamo/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/excellence-is-to-do-a-common-thing-in-an-uncommon-way/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [We must reinforce argument with results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/we-must-reinforce-argument-with-results/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [Mere connection with what is known as a superior race will not permanently carry an individual forward unless the individual has worth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/mere-connection-with-what-is-known-as-a-superior-race-will-not/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [No race that has anything to contribute to the markets of the world is long in any degree ostracized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/no-race-that-has-anything-to-contribute-to-the-markets-of-the-world/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-highest-test-of-the-civilization-of-any-race-is-in-its/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [The Negro is not the man farthest down. The condition of the coloured farmer in the most backward parts of the Southern States of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/the-negro-is-not-the-man-farthest-down-the-condition-of-the-coloured/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [“it takes no more time to be polite to every one than it does to be rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/it-takes-no-more-time-to-be-polite-to-every-one-than-it-does-to-be/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) [Explore all 174 Booker T. Washington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) ## More Devoted quotes > [As an undergraduate at Amherst College, I was devoted to Dickensian novels and antiestablishment journalism while marginally fulfilling premedical requirements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-e-varmus/as-an-undergraduate-at-amherst-college-i-was-devoted-to-dickensian/) [Harold E. Varmus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-e-varmus/) > [You'll know you're amazing when you get devoted to making other people amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-ll-know-you-re-amazing-when-you-get-devoted-to-making-other/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [It is hard to work for years with pure motives, and all the time be looked upon by most of those to whom our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livingstone/it-is-hard-to-work-for-years-with-pure-motives-and-all-the-time-be/) [David Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone/) > [The USA is so enormous, and so numerous are its schools, colleges and religious seminaries, many devoted to special religious beliefs ranging from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-medawar/the-usa-is-so-enormous-and-so-numerous-are-its-schools-colleges-and/) [Peter Medawar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-medawar/) > [There are something like 300 anti-genocide chapters on college campuses around the country. It's bigger than the anti-apartheid movement. There are something like 500…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-power/there-are-something-like-300-anti-genocide-chapters-on-college/) [Samantha Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-power/) > [The man does not live who is more devoted to peace than I am. None who would do more to preserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/the-man-does-not-live-who-is-more-devoted-to-peace-than-i-am-none-who/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/queen-elizabeth-ii/i-declare-before-you-all-that-my-whole-life-whether-it-be-long-or/) [Queen Elizabeth II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/queen-elizabeth-ii/) > [Then years back, when I moved to California, I happened to see a book about fashions of 19th-century Victorian England, only four pages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-years-back-when-i-moved-to-california-i-happened-to-see-a-book/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I will always fight for progress and reform, never tolerate injustice or corruption, always fight demagogues of all parties, never belong to any party,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-pulitzer/i-will-always-fight-for-progress-and-reform-never-tolerate-injustice/) [Joseph Pulitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-pulitzer/) > [I like people who are devoted to me: men who know I'm the most fabulous thing in the world, and they just look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-bowie/i-like-people-who-are-devoted-to-me-men-who-know-i-m-the-most/) [Angela Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-bowie/) > [And your Highnesses, as Catholic Christians and Princes, devoted to the holy Christian faith and the propagation thereof - and enemies of the sect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/and-your-highnesses-as-catholic-christians-and-princes-devoted-to-the/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) > [I realized that health is the most important thing and that all the other things come with time if you are devoted enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blanka-vlasic/i-realized-that-health-is-the-most-important-thing-and-that-all-the/) [Blanka Vlasic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blanka-vlasic/) > [Doctoral training is devoted almost entirely to learning to do research, even though most Ph.Ds who enter academic life spend far more time teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-bok/doctoral-training-is-devoted-almost-entirely-to-learning-to-do/) [Derek Bok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-bok/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [Congress is full of good, decent, smart people who have devoted their lives to public service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/congress-is-full-of-good-decent-smart-people-who-have-devoted-their/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) Browse all 711 Devoted quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Leaders have devoted themselves to politics, little knowing, it seems that political independence disappears without economic independence that economic independence is the foundation of political independence.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Booker T. 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