--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A few ideas seem to be agreed upon. Help…" description: "\"A few ideas seem to be agreed upon. Help none but those who help themselves. Educate only at schools which provide in some form for industrial educatio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_african-american_a-few-ideas-seem-to-be-agreed-upon-help_1773685.jpg" --- # A few ideas seem to be agreed upon. Help none but those… ![“A few ideas seem to be agreed upon. Help none but those who help themselves. Educate only at schools which provide in some form for industrial education. These two points should be insisted upon. Let the normal instruction be that men must earn their own living, and that by the labor of their…” quote by Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_african-american_a-few-ideas-seem-to-be-agreed-upon-help_1773685.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_african-american_a-few-ideas-seem-to-be-agreed-upon-help_1773685.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7db/rutherford-b-hayes-3486_african-american_a-few-ideas-seem-to-be-agreed-upon-help_1773685.jpg) > “A few ideas seem to be agreed upon. Help none but those who help themselves. Educate only at schools which provide in some form for industrial education. These two points should be insisted upon. Let the normal instruction be that men must earn their own living, and that by the labor of their hands as far as may be. This is the gospel of salvation for the colored man. Let the labor not be servile, but in manly occupations like that of the carpenter, the farmer, and the blacksmith.” [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates self-reliance, vocational education, and dignified labor for African Americans as a path to empowerment. **In simple terms:** Encourage personal effort and practical skills for freedom. Key Takeaway Promote work and learning for independence. Themes self-reliance education labor empowerment racial equality Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - school curricula - community workshops - job training programs - policy advocacy Key Concepts vocational training economic independence social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can societies ensure equal access to dignified work? - What policies best support vocational pathways for marginalized groups? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic barriers that limit access to such opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [African american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) [Blacksmiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blacksmiths/) [Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carpenter/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Educate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educate/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Farmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/farmers/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Ideas Agreed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas-agreed-1801381/) [Industrial Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industrial-education-1801383/) [Instruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction/) [Instruction Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instruction-men-1801382/) [Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor/) [Labor Servile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labor-servile-1801385/) [Let Labor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/let-labor-1801384/) [Manly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manly/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Normal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/normal/) [Occupation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/occupation/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [The study of tools as well as of books should have a place in the public schools. Tools, machinery, and the implements of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-study-of-tools-as-well-as-of-books-should-have-a-place-in-the/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Let us not so much labor to know where hell is - as how to escape it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-chrysostom/let-us-not-so-much-labor-to-know-where-hell-is-as-how-to-escape-it/) [John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-chrysostom/) > [“That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-some-should-be-rich-shows-that-others-may-become-rich-and-hence-2/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“Carpenters don’t make their saws and hammers, tailors don’t make their scissors and needles, and plumbers don’t make their wrenches, but blacksmiths can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-c-dennett/carpenters-don-t-make-their-saws-and-hammers-tailors-don-t-make-their/) [Daniel C. Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-c-dennett/) > ['English fair play' is a fine expression. It justifies the bashing of the puny draper's assistant by the big hairy blacksmith, and this to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-furphy/english-fair-play-is-a-fine-expression-it-justifies-the-bashing-of/) [Joseph Furphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-furphy/) > [One day we will all cherish the memory of having blacksmiths on every corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-singleton/one-day-we-will-all-cherish-the-memory-of-having-blacksmiths-on-every/) [George Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-singleton/) > [It's not the fire nor the Blacksmiths hammer nor anvil it's the power of his mind, that forges the steel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-victor-paskavich/it-s-not-the-fire-nor-the-blacksmiths-hammer-nor-anvil-it-s-the-power/) [Stanley Victor Paskavich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-victor-paskavich/) > [It's us fun being a horse when the tractor comes along, or the blacksmith when the car comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/it-s-us-fun-being-a-horse-when-the-tractor-comes-along-or-the/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [I wonder why people so commonly suppose that if two individuals are both writers they must therefore be hugely congenial," said Anne, rather scornfully.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wonder-why-people-so-commonly-suppose-that-if-two-individuals-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ But, did the Divinity \[of Christ\] suffer? \[...\] The holy fathers explained this point through the aforementioned clear example of the red-hot iron, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-shenouda-iii-of-alexandria/but-did-the-divinity-of-christ-suffer-the-holy-fathers-explained-this/) [Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-shenouda-iii-of-alexandria/) > [I was a blacksmith's boy but yesterday; I am - what shall I say I am today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-was-a-blacksmith-s-boy-but-yesterday-i-am-what-shall-i-say-i-am/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I read the best works of some of the best satirists, and indeed best writers from the beginning of the Victorian era to about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-read-the-best-works-of-some-of-the-best-satirists-and-indeed-best/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Many authors write like amateur blacksmiths making their first horseshoe; the clank of the anvil, the stench of the scorched leather apron, the sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/many-authors-write-like-amateur-blacksmiths-making-their-first/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/a-good-friend-and-a-bad-friend-are-like-a-perfume-seller-and-a/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [My first job was in a Bohemian polka band, the Rejcek family polka band in Abbott. The old man in the band had another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/my-first-job-was-in-a-bohemian-polka-band-the-rejcek-family-polka/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) ## More by Rutherford B. Hayes > [Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nothing-brings-out-the-lower-traits-of-human-nature-like-office/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [No person connected with me by blood or marriage will be appointed to office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/no-person-connected-with-me-by-blood-or-marriage-will-be-appointed-to/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The President of the United States should strive to be always mindful of the fact that he serves his party best who serves his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-president-of-the-united-states-should-strive-to-be-always-mindful/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The gloomy theology of the orthodox--the Calvinists--I do not, I cannot believe. Many of the notions--nay, most of the notions--which orthodox people have of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-gloomy-theology-of-the-orthodox-the-calvinists-i-do-not-i-cannot/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Every age has its temptations, its weaknesses, its dangers. Ours is in the line of the snobbish and the sordid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/every-age-has-its-temptations-its-weaknesses-its-dangers-ours-is-in/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Strikes and boycotting are akin to war, and can be justified only on grounds analogous to those which justify war, viz., intolerable injustice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/strikes-and-boycotting-are-akin-to-war-and-can-be-justified-only-on/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The melancholy thing in our public life is the insane desire to get higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-melancholy-thing-in-our-public-life-is-the-insane-desire-to-get/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [As friends go it is less important to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/as-friends-go-it-is-less-important-to-live/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [ My father and mother in 1817 were forty-nine days on the road with their emigrant wagons \[from Vermont\] to Ohio. More than two days… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/my-father-and-mother-in-1817-were-forty-nine-days-on-the-road-with/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Unjust attacks on public men do them more good than unmerited praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/unjust-attacks-on-public-men-do-them-more-good-than-unmerited-praise/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Nobody ever left the presidency with less regret, less disappointment, fewer heart burnings, or any general content with the result of his term (in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/nobody-ever-left-the-presidency-with-less-regret-less-disappointment/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [If a liberal policy towards the late Rebels is adopted, the ultra Republicans are opposed to it; if the colored people are honored, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/if-a-liberal-policy-towards-the-late-rebels-is-adopted-the-ultra/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [Disunion and civil war are at hand; and yet I fear disunion and war less than compromise. We can recover from them. The free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/disunion-and-civil-war-are-at-hand-and-yet-i-fear-disunion-and-war/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [The best religion the world has ever known is the religion of the Bible. It builds up all that is good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/the-best-religion-the-world-has-ever-known-is-the-religion-of-the/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) > [There is a great deal of strength in Garfield's life and struggles as a self-made man… From poverty and obscurity, by labor at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutherford-b-hayes/there-is-a-great-deal-of-strength-in-garfield-s-life-and-struggles-as/) [Rutherford B. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) [Explore all 129 Rutherford B. Hayes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutherford-b-hayes/) ## More African american quotes > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [I grew up in Synagogue in the boys' choir. We didn't listen to music in the house; only at temple. Then I went to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-patinkin/i-grew-up-in-synagogue-in-the-boys-choir-we-didn-t-listen-to-music-in/) [Mandy Patinkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-patinkin/) > [I agreed a long time ago, I would not live at any cost. If I am moved or forced away from what I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-agreed-a-long-time-ago-i-would-not-live-at-any-cost-if-i-am-moved/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [“This popularity extended to Trump himself, who, according to private demographic research conducted at the time, was even more popular with African American and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-green/this-popularity-extended-to-trump-himself-who-according-to-private/) [Joshua Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-green/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I know I'm more forgiving than most African Americans when it comes to second chances for White people who not only commit a racial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/i-know-i-m-more-forgiving-than-most-african-americans-when-it-comes/) [Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/) > [Some Republicans gave up on winning the African-American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-mehlman/some-republicans-gave-up-on-winning-the-african-american-vote-looking/) [Ken Mehlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-mehlman/) > [It's unfortunate that a lot of people think African-American female artists are monolithically R&B this-or-that, don't have to do anything by default.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/it-s-unfortunate-that-a-lot-of-people-think-african-american-female/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Whereas our ancestors (not of choice) were the first successful cultivators of the wilds of America, we their descendants feel ourselves entitled to participate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-allen/whereas-our-ancestors-not-of-choice-were-the-first-successful/) [Richard Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-allen/) > [It may be changing, but still it's the one place, that total control of an institution, that African Americans have. So sometimes, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-emerson/it-may-be-changing-but-still-it-s-the-one-place-that-total-control-of/) [Michael Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-emerson/) > [Most of the more celebrated names among African-American authors, poets, and artists are known to the world because of their association with specific cultural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/most-of-the-more-celebrated-names-among-african-american-authors/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [I think it's easier for African American and white comics to be praised than it is Latinos because they think our culture or our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lopez/i-think-it-s-easier-for-african-american-and-white-comics-to-be/) [George Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lopez/) > [“Alabama in 1927 alone, 27,701 men were arrested on misdemeanor charges and offered for sale by county sheriffs. In Blackmon’s estimation, “roughly half of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-haney-l-pez/alabama-in-1927-alone-27-701-men-were-arrested-on-misdemeanor-charges/) [Ian Haney López](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-haney-l-pez/) > [I'm just trying to touch the world and touch the people and just get good material. And show them that we can get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-m-just-trying-to-touch-the-world-and-touch-the-people-and-just-get/) [Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/) [Browse all 1,848 African american quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/african-american/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A few ideas seem to be agreed upon. Help none but those who help themselves. Educate only at schools which provide in some form for industrial education. These two points should be insisted upon. 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