Life Quote by Sapphire
““Mother to Son Well, son, I'll tell you: Life for me ain't been no crystal stair. It's had tacks in it, And splinters, And boards torn up, And places with no carpet on the floor - Bare. But all the time I'se been a'climbin' on, And reachin' landin's, And turnin' corners, And sometimes goin' in the dark Where there ain't been no light. So boy, don't you turn back. Don't you set down on the steps 'Cause you finds it's kinder hard. Don't you fall now - For I'se still goin', honey, I'se still climbin', And life for me ain't been no crystal stair. - Langston Hughes (112)””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Mother to Son, 1922
Life is a rough, uneven journey requiring perseverance despite hardships.
In simple terms: Life is hard; keep climbing.
Key Takeaway
Persist despite obstacles.
Themes
perseverance
hardship
determination
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- civil rights activism
- education
- career challenges
Key Concepts
metaphor
resilience
social struggle
Questions to Reflect On
- What obstacles are your “tacks”?
- How can you support others climbing their stairs?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may oversimplify systemic barriers.
![“[ Mrs. James, my fifth-grade teacher] introduced us to these authors early on and taught us that their literature is important. Langston Hughes - we read his poetry. We studied who W.E.B DuBois was. And so she whetted our appetites.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/39d/michael-eric-dyson-1424_appetite_mrs-james-my-fifth-grade-teacher-introdu_519534.jpg)
