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Books Quote by Booker Washington; T. 8vo

“In my contact with people I find that, 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. No man whose…” quote by Booker Washington; T. 8vo
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““In my contact with people I find that, 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. No man whose vision is bounded by colour can come into contact with what is highest and best in the world. In meeting men, in many places, I have found that the happiest people are those who do the most for others; the most miserable are those who do the least. I have also found that few things, if any, are capable of making one so blind and narrow as race prejudice. I often say to our students, in the course of my talks to them on Sunday evenings in the chapel, that the longer I live and the more experience I have of the world, the more I am convinced that, after all, the one thing that is most worth living for -- and dying for, if need be -- is the opportunity of making some one else more happy and more useful.””

Booker Washington; T. 8vo

About This Quote

Broadening one’s horizons through reading, travel, and openness leads to happiness, while narrow, prejudiced mindsets hinder growth and fulfillment.

In simple terms: Open mind, reading, travel bring joy; prejudice blocks it.

Key Takeaway

Seek knowledge, empathy, and service to others.

Themes

growth empathy prejudice service happiness

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

Books:1 Good book:0 Happiest people:1 Outside world:1 Prejudice:1 Racism:1 Thoughts:0 Worth living:1 Open Souls:0 Narrow People:1 Prejudice Say:0

When to use this quote

  • reading clubs
  • travel experiences
  • community service
  • teaching

Key Concepts

humanism social responsibility education

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we combat narrow mindsets?
  • What actions increase others’ happiness?
A Different Perspective

Prejudice may be oversimplified.

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